Zelman Symphony capacity audiences of Mahler's epic Eighth Symphony - the "Symphony of a Thousand" - at the Melbourne Town Hall. In what was believed to be "a first" for an Australian Community Orchestra, the performances involved over 580 performers including an augmented Zelman Symphony of some 125 players led by Guest Concertmaster, Wilma Smith, Concertmaster of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO), and featuring many guest principal players from the MSO and other top orchestras and music institutions. David Macfarlane played the magnificent organ, a 370 voice choir was formed from nine community choirs, and an 80 voice children's choir involved students
Symphony No. 6 (Hanson) Symphony No. 6 (Hanson) The Symphony No. 6 is an orchestral symphony in six movements by the American composer Howard Hanson. The work was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein for the orchestra's 125th anniversary. It was composed in 1967 and was given its world premiere on February 29, 1968, by the New York Philharmonic conducted by Hanson. The symphony has a duration of roughly 20 minutes and is composed in six continuous movements: The Symphony No. 6 has been praised by music critics. John von Rhein of the "Chicago Tribune" called it "one