SMO goes to Perth (FAME 2023) 9-14/1/23

SMO had 17 players attend the recent Perth FAME (Federation of Australasian Mandolin Ensembles) Festival from January 8th -15th. A week of rehearsals culminated in a special concert at the Perth Modern School’s Beasley hall. There were 60+ players of plucked stringed instruments from all over Australia. The conductor was in fact our own conductor, Werner Ruecker who was invited to lead us for the week. His composition for mandolin orchestra, ‘In Covid Times’ was part of the program and originally submitted for a composition competition having been written with a large ensemble in mind. It was an unique and inspiring concert showcasing the creativity and kinship among community music-making ensembles in Australia. 

The concert was recorded in full and you can listen to all of the pieces here: