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Following an extensive application process, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra has announced the five participants in the organisation’s flagship Young and Emerging Artist program for 2022 as Alessandro Pittorino, Sara Duhig, Sarah Mills Menogue, Laurissa Brooke and Blake Houlahan

Every year WASO nurtures a new generation of young and emerging artists, assisting them in finding their pathway into the profession and helping to secure a bright future for music in Australia.

The program will provide these talented artists the opportunity to gain coveted experience working with WASO’s Assistant Conductor Jen Winley and gain access to WASO rehearsals, concerts and the depth of experience in the company’s orchestral and artistic planning management.

The participants will enjoy workshops with Winley, be offered access to WASO concerts and rehearsals and attend and observe the Assistant Conductor’s workshops with Principal Conductor Asher Fisch and the orchestra.

Participants will also attend information sessions with the orchestra’s Artistic Planning team to gain experience, insight and understanding of a fully professional orchestra and how WASO is delivering on the company’s commitment to world class artistic performances, community engagement and building a strong collaborative culture.

The Emerging Conductors Program plays an important role in developing the skills of the Western Australian conducting community and contributes to raising the standards of conducting and music direction in education, community orchestras and other musical ensembles. It also provides a platform for nurturing talented conductors with the potential for a professional career.

Winley completed the Emerging Conductors Program in 2020-21, and now leads the program this year as WASO’s Assistant Conductor. Winley shared “The Emerging Conductors Program is an excellent initiative by WASO and supports conductors from a variety of backgrounds including Community Music and Music Education in addition to aspiring professional conductors. The 2022 participants are a wonderful group of Perth musicians and I am looking forward to helping them develop their skills and create a supportive community of emerging conductors.”

Two of the participants have worked with WASO previously as musicians, with Alessandro Pittorino a regular guest organist with the orchestra, and Sara Duhig performing as a violinist with the orchestra on numerous occasions since 2007.

The WASO Assistant Conductor position and Emerging Conductors program are supported by the Simon Lee Foundation, which aspires to build an alumni body of young artists that can connect, create and support each other.

More information about the Emerging Conductors Program can be found on the WASO website

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