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Music For Canberra

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Music For Canberra

Music for Canberra is a not-for-profit organisation that provides access to inspiring and inclusive musical experiences in the ACT.

We believe that music-making plays a vital role in developing cognitive function and creating community & friendships. As a Key Arts Organisation, Music for Canberra develops unique performance opportunities and surprising collaborations to bring the community together and enrich the cultural fabric of this city. We have fantastically diverse programs from ukulele ensembles to violin duets, from o

ur unique Mixed Ability Program (MAP) for adults living with disability to our renowned Canberra Children’s Choir (CCC). There is music to be made and enjoyed by everyone! MfC is renowned for our excellent ensembles that range from budding string players right through to the capital’s premier youth orchestra the Canberra Youth Orchestra. We strive to challenge our elite young talent with inventive and inclusive programming in new spaces and in new partnerships. Music for Canberra is supported by artsACT and the Snow Foundation.

27/08/2026

🌍💃 Throwback Thursday: Musical Journeys Around the World

Looking back through the Canberra Youth Music archives, we found two wonderful concerts that celebrated music, culture and dance from across the globe.

🎶 Around the World in 80 Minutes took audiences on a whirlwind musical adventure, travelling through Aussie folk tunes, American jazz, Asian melodies and European airs, performed by our talented young musicians.

💃 Not Strictly Ballroom invited audiences to dance through the ages, from Renaissance courts and 18th-century ballrooms to the tango, Latin rhythms and swing. Guests were even encouraged to come dressed in the costume of their favourite era!

Although the concerts were very different, both shared the same spirit: bringing people together through music, exploring different cultures, countries and traditions, and celebrating the joy of discovering the world through performance.

Do you remember attending either of these concerts? We'd love to hear your memories in the comments! 👇

26/08/2026

🌸🎶 Spring is Almost Here – and so is Floriade! 🎶🌸

Canberra's favourite celebration of spring returns on 12 September, and Music for Canberra is excited to once again be part of the festivities!

Join us during Floriade to enjoy performances from some of our talented young musicians and singers as they share the joy of live music with the community.

🎵 Saturday 12 September
Woden Valley Youth Choir
📍 Stage 88, Commonwealth Park
🕚 11:45am–12:45pm

Then the following weekend:

🎻🎺 Saturday 19 September
Featuring :
• Canberra Youth Orchestra
• McCusker Strings
• Louise Butler Strings
• Canberra Youth Concert Band

📍 Stage 88, Commonwealth Park
🕙 10:00am–11:00am

Set amongst Canberra's spectacular spring blooms, these free performances are a wonderful opportunity to enjoy music making by our young and talented performers.

Bring your family and friends, enjoy the flowers and support the next generation of Canberra musicians. We hope to see you there! 🌼✨

25/08/2026

🎉🍔 Support Music For Canberra at Grill'd Woden This September! 🍔🎉

We're excited to share that Music for Canberra is participating in Grill'd Woden's Local Matters program throughout September!

From 1–30 September, every customer at Grill'd Woden receives a token to place in one of the Local Matters jars. At the end of the month, the distribution of tokens determines how Grill'd's community donation is shared between the featured organisations.

If you're grabbing a burger, catching up with friends, or enjoying a family meal at Grill'd Woden this September, we'd be so grateful if you could pop your token into the Music For Canberra jar. 🎶

Every token helps support our work supporting young musicians across the Canberra region.

Thank you to Grill'd Woden for supporting local community organisations.

📅 When: 1–30 September 2026
📍 Where: Grill'd Woden

Be sure to tell your family and friends—and don't forget to vote for Music For Canberra! 💚

24/08/2026

🎶🍎 Thank You, Music Teachers! 🍎🎶

Behind every confident performer, every first note, every successful concert, and every lifelong love of music, there's often a teacher who helped make it possible.

This week we'd like to say a heartfelt thank you to all the incredible music teachers, conductors, tutors, accompanists and mentors who share their knowledge with the next generation of musicians.

Whether they're leading an ensemble rehearsal, teaching a beginner their first scale, helping a student prepare for a performance, or inspiring a young person to believe in their own abilities, music teachers make an enormous difference in the lives of their students and communities.

At Music for Canberra, we are incredibly grateful that we have such dedicated educators working with our ensembles and programs throughout the year. Your expertise and enthusiasm help our young musicians grow as confident performers.

🎵 We'd love to hear from you!

Who was the music teacher who inspired you?

Tag them in the comments or share a favourite memory of a teacher who helped shape your musical journey.

23/08/2026

🎶☁️ Thank You for Joining Us at Touch the Sky! ☁️🎶

Last weekend, Woden Valley Youth Choir delighted audiences with their annual concert, Touch the Sky.

A huge congratulations to all of the singers, conductors, accompanists, volunteers, families, and supporters who helped make this concert such a special occasion.

A beautiful and varied program of folk-inspired music showcased the unique power of choral music to bring people together and create something greater than any one voice alone.

To everyone who came along to support the choir, thank you. Your encouragement means so much to our young musicians and helps foster a vibrant and supportive musical community.

Congratulations again to everyone involved in making Touch the Sky such a memorable celebration of music and community.

22/08/2026

🎼Canberra Composer Spotlight: Michael Sollis 🎼

This week we're celebrating the life and music of Michael Sollis (1985–2026), a remarkable Canberra composer, performer, educator, artistic director and advocate whose influence continues to be felt throughout Australia's musical community.

As Canberra Youth Orchestra begins rehearsing Michael's Homage to Carl Stalling this Saturday, we thought it was the perfect time to shine a spotlight on both the composer and the piece.

Written for the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra and first performed in 2011, Homage to Carl Stalling is inspired by the legendary composer behind the music of many classic Looney Tunes cartoons. The work captures the storytelling power that made Carl Stalling's music so memorable in a vibrant and engaging orchestral work.

Born and raised in Canberra, Michael built an extraordinary career connecting people through music. He founded the acclaimed Griffyn Ensemble, served as co-Artistic Director of the National Folk Festival, worked with Musica Viva Australia to bring music and creativity to hundreds of thousands of students.

Michael's passion for creativity, education and community left a lasting mark on Australia's cultural landscape. We are excited that a new generation of Canberra Youth Orchestra musicians continue to explore and perform his works.

Have you performed, studied, collaborated, or crossed paths with Michael and his work? We'd love to hear your memories in the comments. 🎶

21/08/2026

🎶✨ Thank You for Joining Us at Worlds in Motion! ✨🎶

What an incredible afternoon of music at Worlds in Motion earlier this month!

A huge congratulations to all the young musicians, singers, conductors, tutors, accompanists, volunteers, families, and supporters who helped make this special concert such a success. Your hard work, dedication, and passion for music were on full display.

From classical favourites and contemporary works to folk-inspired music, film scores, and video game soundtracks, the program showcased the remarkable talent and diversity across Music for Canberra.

Thank you to our wonderful performers from:
🎻 Canberra Youth Orchestra
🎻 McCusker Strings
🎻 Louise Butler Strings
🎺 Canberra Youth Concert Band

🎶 Kompactus Youth Choir

Thank you to everyone who came along to support our young performers. Your encouragement helps our musicians grow in confidence and continue their musical journeys.

We're delighted to share some photos from the day—see if you can spot yourself, your friends, or your ensemble! 📸

20/08/2026

🎻✨ Throwback Thursday – Stravinsky with Canberra Youth Orchestra ✨🎻

Today we're looking back at two unforgettable Canberra Youth Orchestra performances of the most exciting and influential orchestral music of the 20th century to Canberra audiences.

In June 2010, under the baton of Rowan Harvey-Martin, CYO performed Igor Stravinsky's The Firebird Suite alongside Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 in B-flat Major, Op. 60 at Llewellyn Hall, ANU School of Music.

A year later, in November 2011, the orchestra returned to Llewellyn Hall to tackle another Stravinsky masterpiece, The Rite of Spring, paired with Edgard Varèse's Amériques—a bold and ambitious program of the most groundbreaking music ever written.

From the magical world of The Firebird to the revolutionary rhythms of The Rite of Spring, these performances are a wonderful reminder of the challenging and inspiring repertoire that generations of Canberra Youth Orchestra musicians have explored over the years.

Were you part of either of these concerts? We'd love to hear your memories in the comments! 🎶

19/08/2026

🎶 There’s still time to join us at an Open Day! 🎶

Missed our Open Days earlier this week? Don’t worry — there are still opportunities to come along and discover the joy of making music with Music for Canberra!

🎵 Canberra Children’s Choir Open Day
📅 Thursday 20 August | 4:30–5:45pm
📍 Ainslie Arts Centre
For children aged 5–9 — a joyful introduction to music through singing, games and movement.

🎻 Louise Butler Strings Open Day
📅 Saturday 22 August | 9:00–10:30am
📍 Ainslie Arts Centre
Perfect for beginner string players learning violin, viola, or cello.

🎻 McCusker Strings Open Day
📅 Saturday 22 August | 9:00am–12:00pm
📍 Ainslie Arts Centre
An opportunity for young string players to experience the excitement of playing together in an ensemble.

🎼 Canberra Youth Orchestra Open Day
📅 Saturday 22 August | 9:00am–12:00pm
📍 Ainslie Arts Centre
For dedicated young musicians ready to explore exciting orchestral repertoire.

Whether you're picking up an instrument for the first time or looking for your next musical adventure, we'd love to welcome you!

🎟️ Find out more:
https://www.musicforcanberra.org.au/enrol-now

Come along, meet our tutors and musicians, make some music and see where your musical journey could take you! 🎶

18/08/2026

🌟 So proud of our students! 🌟

What a busy and exciting time it has been for our young musicians across Music for Canberra! 🎶

From the wonderful performances at Worlds in Motion and Touch the Sky, to orchestra workshops, rehearsals and all the music-making happening behind the scenes, our students have been putting in the time, energy and passion that make these experiences so special.

🎻 Rehearsing and performing
🎺 Young musicians preparing for their recent concerts Worlds in Motion and Touch the Sky
🎤 Choirs filling the room with music
🎼 Orchestra workshops bringing musicians together
✨ And countless hours of learning, practising and creating!

We are incredibly proud of every student who has stepped onto a stage, joined a rehearsal, challenged themselves, supported their fellow musicians or simply kept showing up and making music.

A huge thank you to our wonderful tutors, conductors, families and supporters who make these opportunities possible.

Here's to the next performance, the next rehearsal, and all the musical adventures still to come! 💙🎶

Address

30 Elouera Street
Braddon, ACT
2612

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 4pm
Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	9am - 12pm

Telephone

(02) 6182 0030

Website

http://www.musicforcanberra.org.au/

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