Brass & Beats
WASO REGIONAL TOUR
Wednesday 29 October 2025, 7pm | York Town Hall
Friday 31 October 2025, 7pm & Saturday 1 November 2025, 2pm | Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre
West Australian Symphony Orchestra respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and Elders of Country throughout Western Australia, on whose lands we work and share music.
How to use your Digital Program
Brass & Beats
Giovanni GABRIELLI Sonata pian’e forte
Attrib. Henry VIII arr. Stephen ROBERTS Pastime With Good Company
Johann Sebastian BACH arr. Johannes BRAHMS Chaconne in D minor
Christer DANIELSSON Capriccio da Camera
Sergei PROKOFIEV arr. Michael ALLEN Selections from Romeo and Juliet Suite
The Street Wakens
Young Juliet
Arrival of the Guests
Masks
Romeo with Friar Lawrence
Dance of the Knights (Montagues and Capulets)
Interval (20 mins)
arr. Joshua DAVIS South American Tango Suite
Corralera (Milonga)
Pedacito De Cielo
El Choclo
Chick COREA Selections from Children’s Songs
No.4
No.6
No.8
No.16
Joachin RODRIGO arr. Alan FERNIE Concierto de Aranjuez
John WILLIAMS Selections from Star Wars Suite
Main Title & Imperial March
Yoda’s Theme
Throne Room
Parade of the Ewoks
Luke and Leia
Finale
Jimmy WEBB arr. Alan FERNIE MacArthur Park
WASO's Regional Tour is supported by MM Electrical Merchandising and the Western Australian Government.
WASO On Stage
Meet The Musician – Jenna Smith
Meet WASO Principal Trumpet, Jenna Smith.
When did you join WASO and where did you play before then?
I joined WASO in 2019 as Associate Principal Trumpet after 2 years of the Sydney Symphony Fellowship Program.
Can you remember your first WASO concert?
My very first WASO performance was as a casual trumpet in 2018. We played Debussy’s La Mer and it was great because the program was about 6 weeks before my WASO Associate Principal Trumpet audition, so I could get to know the hall and how the Orchestra played before I auditioned for a full-time position.
Do you have any stand out concerts or performances in your time with WASO?
One of my favourite performances with WASO was playing Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto (2024). Usually the trumpets sit at the back of the Orchestra and so it was such a thrill to stand at the front of the Orchestra and play a concerto!
Another special performance was Mahler’s Third Symphony in 2022 with Asher Fisch. It was one of my last performances as Associate Principal Trumpet. I played the offstage post horn solo part, and I had the privilege of sitting side stage after I had finished playing and listening to the final movement of the symphony from there by myself. It was a bittersweet moment because I was going to miss my former Principal Trumpet colleague so much, but it also marked a new chapter for me in my musical journey. It’s such beautiful music and my colleagues’ playing brought me to tears side stage.
Do you have a shortlist of works or composers that you love to play the most?
Mahler is by far my favourite composer. I’m a typical trumpet player who loves Strauss, Prokofiev and Wagner, as well. I love playing works by Australian composers like Nigel Westlake, Elena Kats-Chernin, and WA’s own Lachlan Skipworth.
What is your top piece of advice for students interested in pursuing a career as a trumpet player?
My top advice for aspiring trumpet players is to go out and get feedback about your playing as often as you can, and from as many different musicians (not just trumpet players) as you can. Approach your practise with honesty and discipline but don’t wait for your playing to be “perfect” or “right” before getting feedback.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 things would choose to have with you?
If I was stranded on a deserted island I would bring my husband and my two dogs!
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Meet The Musician – Brian Maloney
Meet WASO Principal Percussion, Brian Maloney.
Tell us about your journey to WASO and your first performance with the Orchestra.
While I was doing my postgrad at the New England Conservatory in Boston, I saw an advertisement for the Principal Percussion position with WASO. I figured I’d try my luck - not knowing anything about WASO or even where Perth was on the map! Needless to say, I was amazed when I arrived a few months later. I found the Orchestra incredibly welcoming and I immediately realised the high calibre of the musical talent on stage amongst my colleagues.
My first performance with WASO was Winton Marsalis’s Swing Symphony accompanied by him and the musicians of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra at the Perth Concert Hall. In a way it was the perfect transition to my time here in Perth because I got to work alongside both American and Australian colleagues in the same performance.
What are your favourite percussion instruments to play?
As cliché as it sounds, I really enjoy the variety that comes with being a percussionist, especially as a Principal whose duty it is to play as many of the various percussion instruments as required. One week I might be playing vibraphone in a contemporary work, the next week it could be cymbals in a Mahler Symphony, and after that it might be snare drum in a Star Wars film. I enjoy them all equally, although I do have to say cymbals hold a special place in my musical heart. The adrenaline rush that you get from playing a climactic cymbal crash at a pivotal moment in a musical work is almost indescribable.
You’re a prominent figure in both secondary and tertiary music education. What’s the best piece of advice you received as a student?
"Hard work will always win out over talent". It’s very easy to get discouraged when you’re young and inexperienced, especially when you’re surrounded by players who are seemingly better than you and are full of “natural talent”. But the irony is, that’s precisely how you get better. The only way to improve is to gain inspiration and knowledge from those more experienced than you and to work as hard - if not harder - than they do. With time and a strong sense of discipline anything is possible, particularly when it comes to music.
You’ve worked extensively in the USA, especially in Boston. How does the classical music scene in Perth differ to others you’ve experienced?
Because Perth is so geographically isolated, it actually works to our benefit here at WASO. I can think of very few other orchestras globally that have the luxury of being able to play the sheer variety of musical styles and genres that we play. Most orchestras tend to get pigeonholed into specific repertoire, whether it be ballet, opera, film music, symphonic music, pops gigs, etc. We’re tasked with playing all of it, all the time. It provides a real relief musically from week to week and also challenges us in a way that most other orchestras don’t experience.
You’re an avid outdoor enthusiast. What are your must-visit Perth spots to explore?
I’ve hiked all over WA, ranging from moderate walks to quite intense multi-day treks, but I’m always astounded at the quality of trails that are right in our own backyard. My go-to trails locally are Serpentine Falls and Lesmurdie Falls. Both are easy day trips out of Perth and offer a beautiful array of wildlife, especially during springtime. That being said, if its stunning scenery you’re after, the Bald Head Trail and Bluff Knoll, both just outside of Albany, offer world-class hikes that continue to leave me breathless every time I visit.
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About WASO
Engage | Excite | Experience | Educate
From the centre of Perth to the furthest corners of the state, we have provided the soundtrack to life in WA since 1928.
As the State Orchestra, Perth’s first and finest, WASO is the largest employer of performing artists in Western Australia and reaches two million people with musical experiences each year on stage, in our community, and online.
From concert stages to classrooms, hospitals to aged care, we bring joy, inspire learning, and nurture participation in our community, because everybody deserves the opportunity to experience live music. Every year, through community and leading industry partnerships, we engage a new generation of young and emerging artists to help secure a bright future for music in Australia.
We celebrate our rich classical music heritage with great artists from all over the world and commission and perform new repertoire to renew and expand it. The Orchestra collaborates widely with major arts companies and independent artists, performing opera to ballet, movies to musicals, jazz to rock.
Asher Fisch is Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser of our Orchestra. We champion the diversity of music in all its forms, with a team of talented and passionate people who create unforgettable experiences for all West Australians to enjoy.
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Your Concert Experience
Get the best out of your concert experience.
- Explore the music
Be sure to take a quick look at the performance schedule or enjoy a deep dive into the music with your concert program online or in the foyer. - Share with your friends
Snap a selfie from your seat, capture the artist bows and share the experience with friends. Don’t forget to tag us! #wasymphonyorchestra - Clap with enthusiasm
Whether you are welcoming your favourite artist to the stage, or showing appreciation at the end of a piece, we love thunderous applause. Not sure when to clap? Here’s a tip; if the conductor’s arm is raised, hold it. If it’s relaxed, go for it! - Respect those around you
Ensure your mobile phone is on silent and does not disrupt the experience of those around you. If you need to cough or sneeze, please do this into your elbow. - Accessible services available
For information about our services, please ask one of our friendly ushers. - Latecomers admitted at a suitable time
If you arrive late or leave your seat during a performance, your auditorium entry will need to wait until a suitable break. - Box Office is open
Get tickets to your next WASO experience by visiting waso.com.au to buy online, or book an in-person ticketing appointment by calling (08) 9326 0000.
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Community Music Making
As part of the Brass & Beats Tour, WASO’s brass and percussion musicians have also brought the joy of live music to regional students. The musicians visited five regional schools including Northam Primary School, Toodyay District High School, York District High School, Newton Moore Senior High School, and Bunbury Senior High School. These lively and interactive performances sparked creativity, inspired musical learning, and provided students with the opportunity to experience world-class musicianship up close. WASO’s community programs are designed to ensure that music is accessible to all West Australians, regardless of their location. By reaching into regional areas, the Orchestra fosters long-term connections with communities and helps cultivate the next generation of music lovers and performers.
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