Sydney Symphony Orchestra Returns Home From 2015 China-Korea Tour

Ninety Sydney Symphony Orchestra musicians have returned home after a highly successful week-long tour of China and Korea under the baton of Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of David Robertson.

The tour saw the orchestra work with the talented young musicians at the prestigious Seoul National University, participate in the Asia Orchestra Symposium in the South Korean city of Daegu and perform in the magnificent acoustics of the Seoul Arts Center and Beijing's National Centre for the Performing Arts - otherwise known as "the Egg".

Sydney Symphony Orchestra Managing Director Rory Jeffes was among several orchestral executives who took part in a panel discussion on attracting new audiences at the Asia Orchestra Symposium in Deagu on October 29. Mr Jeffes said the tour had demonstrated the orchestra's ongoing commitment to promoting Australia's diplomatic, economic and cultural interests in the region.

"On this tour we further cemented our friendships in China and Korea by performing concerts in three cities, conducting outreach at Seoul National University and participating in the Asia Orchestra Symposium, a mini-festival of performances and talks from orchestras in the region," he said.

"The overwhelmingly positive responses we received from audiences on this tour - our fourth tour to China and second tour to South Korea - says to me that the SSO is well on its way to becoming the leading orchestra in the Asia-Pacific and that Australian culture enjoys a vibrant profile in the region.

"Touring with 90 musicians and 4.5 tonnes of instruments is no small undertaking; to that end the SSO thanks its sponsors Tianda, Foresun, Hyundai Motor Company, Wanda Group as well as the Australian Embassies in China and Korea for supporting this tour," Mr Jeffes added.