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Trailblazing maestra and world-renowned conductor Sarah-Grace Williams wants all Sydneysiders 鈥 not just the privileged few - to experience the magic of orchestral music. Orchestral concerts may typically be the domain of wealthy seniors in tuxedoes and pearls, but when The Metropolitan Orchestra (TMO) plays, you鈥檙e just as likely to see newly arrived refugees, toddlers and cash-strapped students in the crowd.
TMO is Williams鈥 brainchild and tackles the elitism associated with orchestral music by producing concerts that are affordable (tickets range from $15 to $55), friendly, and often in accessible suburban venues. TMO also provides valuable performance and development opportunities for up-and-coming musicians.
Born and raised in Penrith and a self-professed 鈥榩roud westie鈥, Sarah-Grace says orchestral music has the power to speak to all humans.
She believes everyone should be able to enjoy a premium concert experience; 鈥渨e know how amazing and soul-enriching the music is.鈥 TMO鈥檚 family concert series, which works in partnership with St Vincent De Paul鈥檚 SPARK program, invites the audience to recline on cushions while a full orchestra plays tunes from Frozen, Star Wars and Superman. Musicians dress as film characters and mingle with the audience, allowing children to play their instruments. Contrary to traditional conventions audience members are welcome to dress however they like and to clap whenever they feel moved to do so. 鈥淚n our concerts, there are people in tuxedoes and people in jeans and T-shirts. We don鈥檛 tell people how to enjoy their music.鈥
The orchestra also performs for newly arrived refugee families in Liverpool and Fairfield, working with a translator to incorporate Arabic into the commentary.
鈥淚t鈥檚 equally special for the audience and the musicians,鈥 Sarah-Grace says. 鈥淭hese are people who have never seen an orchestral performance, let alone believed they could ever go to one. You see their faces light up.鈥 Along with its Sydney concerts, TMO plays on cruise ships and under the stars in vineyards. A recent addition to its program is Feast for the Senses 鈥 a musical performance designed to complement a three-course meal, with matching wines. 鈥淟ots of people are into food and wine, but they might not go to see an orchestra,鈥 says Sarah-Grace. 鈥淭his enables us to reach another demographic.鈥
It鈥檚 not just her audiences that are atypical.
Sarah-Grace is about as far from the stereotype of a tyrannical grey-haired maestra as it gets. After completing a Bachelor of Arts in Music with First Class Honours in Conducting at 91成人, she began her conducting career at the age of 20. She has since been hailed as one of the world鈥檚 10 best female conductors and has worked with famed orchestras and conductors across Europe. Despite her achievements, Sarah-Grace isn鈥檛 above dressing as Elsa from Frozen to conduct for a crowd of toddlers. 鈥淚鈥檓 the captain of the team, but it鈥檚 just one job 鈥 all the musicians, and audience members, have a role,鈥 she says. 鈥淭yrannical dictators don鈥檛 get the best results.鈥
Sarah-Grace鈥檚 achievements recently earnt her the 2017 Chancellor鈥檚 Leadership Award, the highest honour in the 91成人 Alumni Awards.
It was so unexpected that she didn鈥檛 have a speech prepared. 鈥淭he award made me stop and think, actually, we鈥檙e performing to sold-out audiences and we must be doing something right. We are changing the musical landscape in Sydney.鈥
Strike a chord.
The Metropolitan Orchestra is a not-for-profit registered charity that aims to make great music accessible for all. It relies on sponsorship and is always on the lookout for like-minded individuals and corporations to join them with financial or other forms of support. Find out more .听
