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Founding Conductor and Artistic & Executive Director Dr. Brian Chatpo Koo is a Sydney-based musician. Having studied music at the University of Hong Kong and the University of Sydney, Brian was the first person in Australia to receive a Ph.D. degree in music composition. Supported by the Hong Kong University Grant, Brian also studied music at the International Summer Course for New Music in Darmstadt, Germany, and obtained his Licentiate and Fellowship Diplomas from the Trinity College of Music in London.
He founded the Sydney Contemporary Orchestra in 2013. Together with about 100 of the finest Sydney professional musicians and a strong volunteer management team, Brian is dedicated to creating a platform where more new orchestral works can be written, performed, heard, recorded, published, and become a part of our music culture, as he believes music development history is written by composers' creativities. To encourage and to reach the pinnacle of this creativity and art, Brian believes that it must through devotion, perseverance, determination, and the most importantly through constant performances. Since 2013 the SCO has held 11 concerts, performed 38 new works of the composers from 22 countries.
Brian founded the SCO Youth Symphony (SYS), a training arm of the Sydney Contemporary Orchestra, to provide professional orchestral training to young musicians, as he believes with classical music training and carefully selected programs covering a variety of cultural perspectives, young musicians can be equipped to broaden their vision and to enhance their understanding of culture, civilization and human society. With its three levels orchestras - the Sydney Contemporary Youth Orchestra (SCYO), the Sydney Hills Youth Orchestra (SHYO), and the Sydney Hills Junior Orchestra (SHJO), more than 200 young musicians have been trained and some of them became professional musicians.
He also founded the Western Sydney Symphony Orchestra (WSSO) in 2019 in the hope to enrich the music culture live of Western Sydney by providing fantastic opportunities for the local music lovers to play and enjoy classical music. Through these events, he wants to build a more vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive local community for lovers of classical and symphonic music.
Brian established a scholarship - Dr. Koo Music Scholarship to help talented young musicians to pursue their high-level music studies.
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Sponsored by the Hills Shire Council, the Dr. Koo Music Scholarship is a cash award for young musicians who have made contributions to the Hills community in participating in the Sydney Hills Youth Orchestra or the Sydney Hills Junior Orchestra.
Young musicians who will receive an invitation for this scholarship should meet the following criteria:
- A member of the Sydney Hills Youth Orchestras or the Sydney Hills Junior Orchestra (for at least two years or more);
- Has made cultural contributions to the Hills community;
- Shown extreme enthusiasm for music;
- Shown potential to make significant contributions to music in the future.
Please contact Dr. Koo for more information: 0449 776 872 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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The Sydney Hills Junior Orchestra
Members of the Sydney Hills Junior Orchestra are those young music lovers, students of primary and high schools in Sydney Hills. We welcome all young music lovers under the age of 15 who have been learning orchestral instruments for over 2 years. Join and enjoy the benefits!
SHJO provides the orchestral experience for members to develop better sight-reading skills, learn new techniques not found in solo work, learn to follow a conductor, strengthen counting and rhythmic skills, and learn orchestral etiquette. Especially for those who play wind instruments, brass instruments, and percussion, they will learn new techniques that aren’t as widely used in a band setting as with an orchestra, requiring them to be more sensitive with their technical abilities. Members of SHJO will be able to take further opportunities to develop their skills, being able to join higher-level youth orchestras or school ensembles. They will also be the ones who achieve special chair positions or music scholarships. This orchestra has 40 scheduled one and half hour rehearsals during the school term and offers many performance opportunities.
Rehearsal time: Friday, 6.00 pm - 7.30 pm
Rehearsal venue: Baulkham High School, TLC Theatre
For more information please contact us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sydney Contemporary Orchestra
Youth Symphony
Established in 2011, a training arm of the Sydney Contemporary Orchestra Inc. (SCO), the SCO Youth Symphony (SYS) is our Youth Program for young music lovers, music students, young musicians, and young music teachers in Sydney, Australia.
Led by its Founding Conductor, Artistic & Executive Director, Dr. Brian Chatpo Koo, the SYS offers young music lovers the opportunity to play and enjoy classical orchestral music of all kinds, not only performing but also learning to understand how those masterpieces were constructed, and expanding their orchestral music education training and orchestral music performance experience. The orchestra also broadens their potential music career by building up their orchestral music repertoires, as well as imparting to them the value of communication, teamwork, and discipline.
After training, they can join our Western Sydney Symphony Orchestra playing alongside professional musicians to get more professional experience. Furthermore, they can join the Sydney Contemporary Orchestra to earn income as professional musicians.
Since 2011 we have hosted 35 concerts and trained more than 200 young musicians. Some of them now pursuing their tertiary music studies and some of them are working as professional musicians.
The SYS consists of two training, performing orchestras:
Each of the orchestras has 40 scheduled sessions (rehearsals and two or three concerts) during the school terms, with carefully selected programs covering a variety of cultural perspectives and artistic values.
Young music lovers who play orchestral instruments are welcome to join us.
Come and experience:
- something exciting,
- something energetic,
- something passionate,
- something professional,
- something enjoyable!
Rehearsal venue: Tiered Learning Centre Theatre, Baulkham Hills High School
419A Windsor Road, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153, Australia
Rehearsal time:
- The SYS Concert Orchestra: Friday 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
- The SYS Junior Orchestra: Friday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
We are a registered provider for the NSW Creative Kids program. All members under the age of 18 are eligible to redeem $100 for their annual membership fee from the NSW Government.
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The Sydney Hills Youth Orchestra
Members of the Sydney Hills Youth Orchestra (SHYO) are those young music lovers, students of high schools and universities, young musicians, and young music teachers in Sydney Hills. We welcome all young music lovers under the age of 25 who have been learning orchestral instruments for over 5 years. Join and enjoy the benefits!
Led by its Founding Conductor and Artistic Director, Dr. Brian Chatpo Koo, SYSCO offers young musicians the opportunities to play and enjoy orchestral music of all kinds, not only performing but also learning to understand how those masterpieces were constructed, and expanding their orchestral music education training and orchestral music performance experience.
The orchestra also broadens their potential music career by building up their orchestral music repertoires, as well as imparting to them the value of communication, teamwork, and discipline. We provide the orchestra experience for members to develop better sight-reading skills, learn new techniques not found in solo work, learn to follow a conductor, strengthen counting and rhythmic skills, and learn orchestral etiquette. Especially for those who play wind instruments, brass instruments, and percussion, they will learn new techniques that aren’t as widely used in a band setting as with an orchestra, requiring them to be more sensitive with their technical abilities. This orchestra has 40 scheduled sessions (rehearsals and concerts) with carefully selected programs covering a variety of cultural aspects and artistic values. The program for each concert includes important classical symphonies, classical concertos, among other famous works of great composers. These multiple-movement training will strengthening young musicians' physical and mental capabilities and will give a fantastic performing experience that young musicians will be benefited forever.
Rehearsal time: Friday, 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm
Rehearsal venue: Baulkham Hills High School, TLC Theatre
For more information please contact us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
