Empowering regional communities to make great music.

RESONANCE STRING ORCHESTRA, with branches IN THE Woodend and Castlemaine, VICTORIA, IS A HIGHLY REGARDED COMMUNITY MUSIC INITIATIVE, OPEN TO PLAYERS OF VIOLIN, VIOLA, VIOLONCELLO AND DOUBLE BASS. 

In the words of our members: “Great arrangements, good communication, bringing different generations together, so good to have an orchestra in our community, bringing in experts to work with orchestra, exposing orchestra to such a variety of musical styles. We are so lucky to have such great musicians to lead us all!”

Our Orchestras

Tuition is provided by four inspiring professional musicians/ educators.

• Apprenti Strings – our Junior Orchestra is open for string students who have basic foundational skills on the instrument up to Grade 2 AMEB equivalent. We play a variety of musical styles including classical, folk and jazz and learn both by ear & from sheet music.

• Resonance String Orchestra – Our Main Orchestra works with our dynamic professional tutor team, as well as our acclaimed Visiting Artists and presents the Annual Concert. Membership is from AMEB Grade 2 minimum to A.Mus and beyond.

Performance Schedule

Apprenti Strings performs in the Resonance String Orchestra Annual Concert.

Resonance String Orchestra boasts an exciting and rigorous performing schedule. As well as the Annual Concert, which showcases the orchestra's collaborative projects with visiting artists, Resonance musicians also perform at local events, charity fundraisers and private functions.

Vision and Principles:

Resonance String Orchestra Vision

Empowering regional communities to make great music.

Principles

We believe in connection, collaboration and relationships by:

●  playing at local events

●  engaging with community groups

●  partnering with others, including visiting artists

●  making time to socialise.

We value First Nations peoples and cultures by:

●  acknowledging traditional owners and elders at the start of each term, at all public performances and at our Annual General Meeting

●  seeking and valuing advice from First Nations people

●  collaborating with and promoting Aboriginal artists.

We promote inclusivity and equity by:

●  welcoming players of all abilities, stages and ambitions

●  not discriminating on age, disability, gender, sex, race, religion or sexual orientation

●  supporting people who face financial or other barriers.

We embrace innovation, creativity and fun by:

●  rehearsing in varied formats and settings

●  developing creative programs and new experiences

●  seeking novel solutions and opportunities

●  encouraging members’ input

●  exploring different ways to learn music.

We strive for musical excellence by:

●  having great teachers

●  holding workshops and masterclasses

●  running concerts and smaller performances

●  being thoughtful about our repertoire

●  setting clear expectations

●  nurturing musical risk taking

●  providing a regular program of rehearsals

●  challenging and supporting our members to reach their goals.

We value professionalism and organisational sustainability by:

●  being well-planned and organised

●  practicing good governance and having strong policies

●  giving our teaching team what they need.

We strive for environmental sustainability by:

●  not printing more than we need and going digital when we can

●  carpooling when appropriate

●  switching off lights and keeping sensible room temperatures

●  reducing waste, particularly when catering.

Resonance was created with a view to: 

• support young string students who are wishing to extend themselves in their musical studies;

•  support VCE music students in their studies and in their transition to tertiary music studies;

• provide a forum for adult amateur musicians to play locally with young musicians of a high standard; and in which they can gain instruction from the Resonance teaching staff.

Resonance has a proud history of supporting VCE Performance and Investigation students in their studies. This has included providing opportunities for concerto performances, and the opportunity to workshop compositions and works-in-progress with the orchestra members and staff. Resonance students have gone on to tertiary music study. 

Resonance is renowned for its Visiting Artists Program

Since its inception in 2009, Resonance has attracted over $40,000 in local and state government funding for our projects. Our members have studied and performed with musicians from The Freshwater Trio, The Eyre Quartet (courtesy of the Australian Youth Orchestra), soprano Elisabeth Denk, MSO percussionist Rob Cossom, The Castlemaine Chamber Players, ACO Collective, Zoe Knighton, klezmer violinist Ernie Gruner, violinist and fiddle-singer Jenny Thomas, early music specialists Lizzy Welsh and Anna Webb, violist Olivia Forsberg, local choir The Pollyphonics, percussionist Bec Matthews, Travel Art Dance Company and Andrea Keeble and Helen Mountfort with their acclaimed, Aria-nominated, 5 piece ensemble Cosmo Cosmolino.

What We've Achieved