In a new milestone for Orchestra Victoria, the company has announced its first full concert season in over a decade, in addition to supporting regular partners The Australian Ballet, Opera Australia and Victorian Opera throughout the year.
Led by artistic leadership of Jessica Gethin, who was appointed as Orchestra Victoria’s Artistic Adviser six months ago, the Orchestra will present a brand new program at its North Melbourne home in the Meat Market in 2025, as well as three concerts as part of its ongoing Southbank Series in Hanson Dyer Hall at the Ian Potter Southbank Centre (part of the University of Melbourne’s Southbank Campus).
“When I began my role earlier this year, one of my key priorities was to reintroduce a full concert season that not only celebrates the incredible work our musicians do, but also highlights our broader contributions to the arts in Victoria. We have an outstanding reputation for our work in the pit, but our impact extends far beyond that. Season 2025 is about bringing all that we do to a wider audience,” Gethin says.
To celebrate the orchestra’s new home at the Meat Market (a Victorian-era meat wholesalers that now operates as an arts and cultural space), Meet @ The Market will feature a series of dynamic, one-hour performances followed by opportunities to mingle with the musicians over a drink after the show.
Repertoire for Meet @ The Market will be drawn from the Southbank Series, with the three new concerts taking place in March, July and September.
“Moving into the Meat Market is an incredible opportunity for us. This iconic venue allows us to create a more accessible concert experience, making it easier for all kinds of audiences whether long-time fans or newcomers to connect with our music in a vibrant, social setting,” Gethin says.
Read: ArtsHub’s 2025 season guide to the performing arts
The Southbank Series remains the heart of the orchestra program and comprises three concerts at the University of Melbourne’s Hanson Dyer Hall, also in March, July, and September.
Audiences can expect a broad repertoire, including works such as Louise Farrenc’s Symphony No 3 and Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony. Leading Australian voices will be prominent in the series, with works by William Barton, Joe Chindamo and Elena Kats-Chenin appearing throughout the program.
Orchestra Victoria’s principal musicians will take centre stage for the series, with Paul Champion, Mark Fitzpatrick and Melissa Chominsky each performing concertos. Concertmaster Sulki Yu will lead the orchestra in the performances.
In addition to its ongoing collaborations with other major partners, as previously mentioned, a major collaboration for Orchestra Victoria in 2025 is a new performance featuring culinary legend Maggie Beer as part of Morning Melodies at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne in June.
Beer’s cookbooks, television programs and produce have entertained and fed Australians for decades, but music has proven to be one of her other lifelong sources of inspiration. An opera lover, regular concertgoer and choir member, she has always found ways to weave music into her daily life.
For Maggie Beer: Music and Me in June, Beer will join Orchestra Victoria to present a selection of handpicked musical pieces that hold deep personal significance for her, with Beer sharing the stories behind each piece and the role music has played throughout her life between each composition.
Additional collaborations and regional performances are still to be announced.
Reflecting on the season ahead, Gethin says, “Since stepping into this role, one phrase has resonated with me: Orchestra Victoria deserves to be seen and heard, not just in the pit, but on stages across the state. Our musicians bring extraordinary talent and passion to every performance and season, and Season 2025 is just the beginning of reinvigorating our visibility and our connection with both existing and new audiences”
Learn more about Orchestra Victoria’s 2025 season.
