Sydney University Musical Society
Encyclopedia
The Sydney University Musical Society (SUMS) is an undergraduate choral society at the University of Sydney
. Founded in 1878, it is one of the oldest secular choir
s in Australia
, and the oldest Australian University Choir. It claims to have given the Australian premiere of such pieces as Handel
's Dixit Dominus and Bach
's Mass in B minor. The Musical Society has performed with orchestras such as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
, the Sydney Youth Orchestra
and the SBS Youth Orchestra.
SUMS' conductor of 23 years, Ben Macpherson
, retired from his post of musical director in mid-2006, with his final performance with the society being Mendelssohn
's 'Elijah', performed in the Great Hall of the University of Sydney.
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. Founded in 1878, it is one of the oldest secular choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
s in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and the oldest Australian University Choir. It claims to have given the Australian premiere of such pieces as Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
's Dixit Dominus and Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
's Mass in B minor. The Musical Society has performed with orchestras such as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra , commonly known as the Sydney Symphony, is an Australian symphony orchestra based in Sydney...
, the Sydney Youth Orchestra
Sydney Youth Orchestra
The Sydney Youth Orchestra , is one of Sydney's premier youth orchestras and is the flagship orchestra of the Sydney Youth Orchestras family. The SYO consists of around 100 skilled young musicians residing around Sydney....
and the SBS Youth Orchestra.
SUMS' conductor of 23 years, Ben Macpherson
Ben Macpherson
Bennet William Macpherson is an Australian conductor who received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2002 for his services to music as a conductor and choirmaster.-Early life:...
, retired from his post of musical director in mid-2006, with his final performance with the society being Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
's 'Elijah', performed in the Great Hall of the University of Sydney.