The Limestone Coast Symphony Orchestra was founded early in 2013 by three Mt Gambier- based musicians.  This small team included: Jennie Matthews, instrumental music teacher and oboist; Tom Dermody, tuba player and committee member of the Mount Gambier City Band and; John Pratt, viola player and member of several local ensembles including the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra. The idea, which had been a subject of discussion for several years between these three friends, was to create a large scale orchestra based in Mount Gambier.  A medium where accomplished musicians from across the region could come together to perform high quality, live, classical music for their local communities. 

 

The orchestra required a few fundamentals to move forward, a musical director, rehearsal space, orchestral percussion instruments and funding.  Hamilton based Angus Christie who specialized in orchestral conducting was approached as musical director, fortunately, he accepted the challenge. 

 

Mount Gambier City Band openhandedly allowed the use of the City Band Hall and its equipment for the ten week rehearsal period. The generous provision of the City Band’s equipment, including orchestral percussion instruments, was much appreciated. Without this in-kind support, the orchestra could not have been formed.  Grants to Country Arts SA, City of Mount Gambier and Stand Like Stone Foundation were all successful and allowed the project to proceed.

 

Once the basic requirements of Conductor, venues and finances were assured, a call for expressions of interest was issued to the local communities. Some sixty musicians registered their enthusiasm to be part of the LCSO. All the individuals who expressed interest were accepted, in line with the orchestra’s philosophy of encouraging local talent. It was most fortunate that the range of instruments represented, matched the proportions required to form a symphony orchestra. All the musicians who took to the stage for the inaugural concert were local except for several enthusiastic friends who travelled from Adelaide, Hamilton and Warrnambool. The volunteer backstage and support crew all came from the Limestone Coast.

 

The LCSO endeavors to select local soloists wherever possible. Program decisions in the first season proved very easy in this respect. Soprano Naomi Summers, Flautists Penny Mansell and Anna Henwood, cellist Robyn Murcott and trumpeters Gary and Jordan Mansell, Jake Arnold and Nathan Gill are all closely connected to the Limestone Coast region. 

 

The decision was also made to include a choir in the program. The LCSO Chorale was established, drawing from singers in several local choirs including the Millicent Choral Society, Phoenix and the Lutheran Men’s Choir as well as other enthusiastic individual choristers led by Choir Trainers Jodi Swiggs and Michael Bleby.

 

Local photographers Frank Monger, Mike Slattery and Jim Hoggevonder generously donated their time and talent to the LCSO in its first season, which resulted not only in a thorough visual summary of the season, but much material for subsequent publicity and signage.

 

The gala concert at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre was presented on 30 June 2013. Conducted by Angus Christie, the program included a range of works from Vivaldi and Handel to Tchaikovsky, Strauss and Rimsky-Korsakov. The orchestra was thrilled to receive a standing ovation from a sold-out house and a standard of quality playing and stylish presentation was set for future performances.