Australian Chamber Orchestra

04/06/2026

Welcoming Australia's winter with Richard Tognetti's thoughts on Vivaldi's 'Winter'❄️

The concertos from 'The Four Seasons' are based on a series of Italian sonnets, which Vivaldi transcribed directly on the score. In 'Winter', the sonnets talk of teeth chattering in the cold, slipping on icy paths, and the chill of the north winds.

A clip from our ACO StudioCast film, 'The Four Seasons', directed by Matisse Ruby, which is available now on YouTube.

04/06/2026

Sydney families, we're bringing Pinocchio to life at ACO On The Pier this July school holidays ✨ Join us at our harbourside home for a brand-new, joyful theatrical adaptation of this classic tale. Coming to life on stage with an actor and live musicians in our beautiful theatre, this is a tale of a boy who was made, and his brave journey to save his papa, Geppetto.

'Pinocchio' is coming to ACO On The Pier, 9 - 19 July. Special early bird offer: enjoy 10% off tickets using the code MAGIC at checkout. Valid until Tue 16 June, or allocation exhausted. Tickets: https://bit.ly/4vcCsdl

Image: Daniel Boud

04/06/2026

Guest Director, Lawrence Power, spoke with The Saturday Paper about the viola, an instrument he calls "the engine room of music... the heart of chamber music", plus the evolving art of classical music, ahead of our upcoming national tour, 'Isles of Light'.

Read the interview: https://bit.ly/4uLhvWS

Tickets: https://bit.ly/4nSNOAy

Leading British violist Lawrence Power, who is preparing to tour with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, wants to reshape the way we experience music.

03/06/2026

A full and inspiring weekend of chamber music in Melbourne.

Together with our University Partner, The University of Melbourne, ACO musicians Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba, Ike See and Melissa Barnard worked with Fine Arts and Music at Melbourne - VCA & Conservatorium students across two days of intensive chamber music sessions. The weekend began with an open quartet rehearsal of Schubert’s Death and the Maiden, followed by a series of mentored and self-directed chamber sessions, before the students brought the weekend to a close with a final performance for their peers.

31/05/2026

The warmest way to welcome winter - please enjoy 60 seconds of Antonio Vivaldi's 'Winter', from our StudioCast, 'The Four Seasons' ❄️🎻

The full StudioCast is available now on YouTube, at the link in our bio.

Directed by Richard Tognetti, and featuring the ACO and riq master James Tawadros, brought to life on screen by director Matisse Ruby.

31/05/2026

ACO Foundations: our in-school string education program which has proven to increase attendance rates in participants. ACO Principal Violin Helena Rathbone and ACO Violin Ike See have seen firsthand the difference this program makes.

When you donate to the ACO, you're supporting our mission to positively impact the developmental and educational outcomes of students through music education.

Visit aco.com.au/donate to join us.

Data: St Mary's North Public School, ACO Foundations Pilot Program.

29/05/2026

Bringing people, art and music together.

Our ACO Next community gathered at N.Smith Gallery this week for an evening of conversation, connection, and live performance among the striking works of artist Sally Scales.

ACO violins Anna da Silva Chen and Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba, guest viola Jacqui Cronin and ACO Principal Cello Timo-Veikko Valve filled the space with music that felt right at home in the space.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. ACO Next continues to grow thanks to our generous, curious, and passionate community. For more info on ACO Next, visit https://www.aco.com.au/support-us/aco-next

Images: Jonathan Cohen Photography

27/05/2026

This June at ACO On The Pier...

ACO musicians Stef, Liz and Tipi, are joined by Lawrence Power, violist and Garth Knox for a very special ACO Up Close on 12 June celebrating the viola. And our beloved Family Days return on 14 June, with a sold-out 'Tchaikovsky and Beyond', plus the opportunity to try a string instrument, for our youngest music lovers.

We're also thrilled to welcome Ensemble Offspring on 3 June with 'The Oracle', an ancient and charismatic vision of the future.

And our friends at Bach Akademie Australia return on 13 June with Collegium Musicum, featuring Bach's timeless Concerto for Two Violins in D minor.

To wrap up the month, Polyphony comes to the pier with 'The Rip' on 27 June, with a setlist of pieces inspired by the water, from Debussy to Kate Bush.

Tickets to all events at ACO On The Pier are available at https://bit.ly/3PT4uva

26/05/2026

We're bringing Pinocchio to life at ACO On The Pier ✨
This July school holidays, join us for a brand-new production of this classic tale. In The Neilson, children can sit close to the action and enjoy live actors and an original score played live on stage at our Sydney harbourside home in Walsh Bay.

Tickets: https://bit.ly/4dx3oi1