All the bells (but no whistles) for our generous supporters

Accompanied by Meriel Owen on piano, Gary gave an entertaining presentation of the range and quality of the TSO’s percussion instruments, many of were acquired through the generosity of the TSO community through donations and various fundraising activities.

It was a celebration of, and an opportunity to thank, supporters of the orchestra while allowing them to see firsthand the difference they make to the TSO’s artistry.

Percussion instruments come in all shapes and sizes, from the tiny triangle and captivating castanets to the booming bass drum and the monumental marimba.

The vast array of TSO percussion instruments, which has grown over time, ensures our percussion team can perform the varied repertoire of the orchestra.

During Gary’s presentation, his demonstration of the TSO’s tubular bells collection provided a clear example of the importance of investing in high quality instruments.

At first glance, the stark contrast between the original, decades-old set and the new set acquired in 2006 was immediately noticeable, with the newer set consisting of many more bells, enabling a wider musical range.

That wasn’t the only difference though – Gary gave each set a good shake for the audience and the original set shook like there was an earthquake whilst the new set stayed impressively stable.

It is easy to imagine the ease with which a musician could play the new set, compared with the hesitation one would feel when approaching the old set.

A significant investment from our generous supporters assists with every high-quality instrument purchased by the TSO.

A special moment during the event came when Gary read the inscriptions on the plaques of the instruments he played, thanking TSO Friends and Patrons for their contributions.

It was a beautiful illustration of how the TSO community is intrinsic to the high calibre of artistry that the TSO is proud to present.

There are many other examples of how our TSO community has made a difference in recent years, including the acquisition of new tutti string instruments; a click-track to enable live film concerts and other visual performances; donations to cover free schools concerts; support for our artistic development programs such as the Australian Composers School and the Australian Conducting Academy; and the commissioning of new Australian and Tasmanian music.

We are grateful to all our supporters, and it is always a pleasure to celebrate the TSO community. It is exciting to imagine what the future holds and what we can achieve together in the years to come!

If you’d like to get involved and support the TSO, head to our support us page or get in touch, our Development Team would love to hear from you.