The MSE Spring Fling Concert, held on 5 September, was an exciting new addition to the Melbourne String Ensemble’s annual concert calendar. Created to celebrate the progress and talents of our ensembles, the event offered a wonderful opportunity for students to share their musical achievements in a warm and supportive setting.

The concert marked a special milestone — the first public performance for MSE’s newest and youngest ensemble, Arietta. They took to the stage with confidence and enthusiasm, performing Stephen Chin’s The Bells of Genghis Khan and Contredanse by Larry Clark. Arietta rose beautifully to the occasion, delighting the audience and showcasing the fantastic work they had been doing throughout the term.

Prelude followed with a vibrant and engaging program, including the premiere of a new work by ANU composition student Molly Scott-Cameron — a playful and imaginative piece titled The Lonesome Cowpoke. They also performed two movements from Soon Hee Newbold’s Elementa, demonstrating impressive musical maturity and expressive control. As always, the ensemble brought their best selves to the performance and clearly enjoyed the opportunity to share their progress and creativity with the audience.

Intermezzo brought energy and flair to the stage with the Finale alla Zingarese from Serenade No. 3 by Robert Fuchs. The lively Hungarian-inspired rhythms and spirited melodies showcased the ensemble’s growing technical skill and strong ensemble cohesion. Their performance captured the joyful vitality of the piece and was a highlight of the evening.

The Chamber ensemble presented a beautifully refined program, performing Dvořák’s Terzetto in C, Op. 74 (1st movement), Schubert’s String Quartet No. 13 in A minor, D. 804 (1st movement), and Mozart’s Trio in E-flat Major, K. 498 ‘Kegelstatt’ (1st movement). Performing with minimal directorship, the musicians demonstrated impressive independence, communication, and musical sensitivity. Each work revealed a different facet of their artistry — from Dvořák’s lyrical interplay and Schubert’s expressive depth to Mozart’s elegant charm. Together, the performances reflected the maturity and collaborative spirit that define MSE’s most experienced players.

The Spring Fling Concert was a joyful and inspiring evening — a celebration of learning, creativity, and the shared love of music that connects every member of the Melbourne String Ensemble community.

The Melbourne String Ensemble (MSE) recently had the great pleasure of welcoming our long-time friends and collaborators from Germany — the Junges Kammerorchester Stuttgart (JuKO) — for the Stuttgart Connect concert.

About JuKO

Founded in 1978 by conductor Thomas Zehetmair, JuKO is one of Germany’s most highly regarded youth chamber orchestras, based in Stuttgart. The ensemble is renowned for its energy, precision, and musical sophistication, performing a wide repertoire that ranges from Baroque to contemporary works. Its members, aged between 14 and 22, are selected for their exceptional musicianship and commitment to ensemble playing, and many go on to distinguished professional careers.

A Longstanding Collaboration

The friendship between MSE and JuKO spans more than two decades. Since their first collaboration in 2003, the two ensembles have come together nine times — both in Melbourne and in Stuttgart’s world-famous Liederhalle concert hall. Across the years, these exchanges have gone far beyond the music itself: students have been billeted by families in both cities, forming deep and lasting connections. On MSE’s most recent visit to Stuttgart, several of our students were even hosted by families whose children had been JuKO members during that very first tour — a wonderful testament to the enduring spirit of this partnership.

The 2025 Melbourne Concert

The Stuttgart Connect concert was a celebration of that long friendship. The program opened with MSE and JuKO performing Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro together — a thrilling showcase of precision, passion, and rich ensemble sound. The energy and joy of collaboration were unmistakable as both groups played as one.

In addition to the feature performances, the program also included a wonderful combined piece from MSE’s four other ensembles — Arietta, Prelude, Intermezzo, and Chamber — featuring musicians ranging from AMEB Preliminary to Grade 8. Together they performed Intrada and Allegro by Rohan Mack, a work for double string orchestra and piano obligato. The piece opens with grand unison chords before shifting to a gentle pastorale section of quiet reflection, and finally bursts into a frenetic Allegro with an exhilarating rhythmic drive that carries through to the final note.

Bringing together four ensembles was a mammoth task, requiring careful coordination and teamwork during rehearsals, but it proved to be a wonderful opportunity for all the musicians to experience something special together — learning from one another and growing as a collective. The directors — Rohan, Naomi, and Dani — thoroughly enjoyed combining their ensembles for this performance, especially with such a perfect piece to unite them.

JuKO concluded the evening with a stunning performance of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, displaying the ensemble’s signature warmth and expressive unity.

Reflecting on the event, Fintan Murphy wrote:

“MSE and JuKO have worked together nine times, both in Melbourne and in the famous Liederhalle in Stuttgart. We have played many concerts together, and students have been billeted by families in both cities. Over the years, our students have made lasting connections and friendships, and on our last tour to Stuttgart, some of our students were hosted by families who were themselves members of JuKO on the first tour of 2003.

For our concert in Melbourne we played the Elgar Introduction and Allegro together, and Stuttgart finished the concert with the Tchaikovsky Serenade. It was a wonderful concert — a continuation of our collaboration of over 20 years.”

The Stuttgart Connect concert was more than just a performance; it was a celebration of music’s power to unite people across generations, cultures, and continents.

MSE’s most recent concert at St Stephen’s Anglican Church in Richmond was a heartwarming celebration of dedication, progress, and musical joy. Families and friends gathered to hear the wonderful results of a term’s hard work, with performances spanning junior to advanced levels.

The Prelude ensemble, under the direction of Naomi Durston, performed Arctic Fire and Alley Cats, dazzling the audience with their fresh energy and enthusiasm. Intermezzo, conducted by Rohan Mack, showcased their growth and dedication with expressive renditions of Vivaldi’s La Folia and Durante’s Allegro.

The programme also featured chamber works performed by MSE Chamber and MSE ensembles under the direction of Fintan Murphy and Danielle Arcaro. The chamber groups wowed the audience with their technical skill and musicality, playing repertoire by Brahms, Mozart, Shostakovich and Schumann.

Each performance reflected not only talent, but the care and commitment of students, teachers, and families alike.

In April 2024, MSE's flagship ensemble  spent three weeks in Germany and Czechia, performing in several major cities of Berlin, Leipzig and in the Czech republic before finishing the tour in Stuttgart. MSE collaborated and performed with the Stuttgart Youth Chamber Orchestra, the Leipzig Youth Symphony Orchestra, and with the orchestra of the School of Music and Art in Liberec. Alumnus Jacinta Ryan (currently a member of the Mannheim opera orchestra) joined us as our soloist and MSE had the opportunity to play in some wonderful concert halls such as the Liedehalle in Stuttgart.

Our program showcased many Australian works, including new works commissioned as part of the Seasons Project and also performed at the Australian Embassy in Berlin. MSE players attended masterclasses with notable German professors such as Anke Dill, Carolin Widman, Marlene Ito, Suyeon Kang and  Peter Bruns. 

Launched in 2022, The Seasons Project commissions Australian First Nations composers to write work for string orchestra inspired by indigenous seasons. So far a collection of five seasons have been premiered and toured both regionally and internationally by the Melbourne String Ensemble. Composers of these exciting new works include Christopher Sainsbury,  James Henry, Aaron Wyatt, Brenda Gifford and William Barton. Read on to find out about the music and the project.

Since 1985, young string musicians have been influenced, inspired and nurtured by the Melbourne String Ensemble. Our alumni have gone on to make an enormous contribution to communities all over the world. Many have developed successful carers as musicians, conductors and composers.