Melbourne Chamber Orchestra has become the first Melbourne-based arts organisation to join Giving Culture’s national corporate gift voucher program. It follows Sydney new music specialist Ensemble Offspring recent sign up to Giving Culture’s roster of partners and will further broaden access to live performance.

Melbourne Chamber Orchestra’s inclusion gives existing Giving Culture gold and silver voucher holders immediate access to the orchestra’s upcoming Overgrown Paths concerts in Melbourne, Yackandandah and Mornington from May 7 to 10.

Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. Photo supplied

Led by MCO artistic director and violinist Sophie Rowell, the program combines music and poetry, culminating in Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons with the composer’s original sonnets narrated by actor Helen Morse. The concert also includes Hugo Wolf’s Italian Serenade, Libby Croad’s Portraits for string orchestra with poetry by Eleanor Percy, and Janáček’s On an Overgrown Path.

MCO executive director Adele Schonhardt said the partnership would help the company reach new audiences.

“Giving Culture is a great initiative that helps make the arts more accessible to a community that might not have been aware of our ‘tiny but mighty’ orchestra otherwise,” she said.

Giving Culture co-founder Martin Aungle said adding MCO marked an important national milestone.
“We’re thrilled to welcome MCO to Giving Culture’s family as our first Melbourne-based arts organisation,” he said.

“Our goal is to provide our voucher holders with opportunities to enjoy cultural experiences and support the arts wherever they are in Australia.”

Ensemble Offspring. Photo © Tess Atutahi

Sydney-based Ensemble Offspring joined the program earlier this year, bringing a contemporary music focus to the platform. Founded more than 30 years ago, the company is recognised as one of Australia’s leading champions of new music.

Ensemble Offspring artistic director and chief executive Claire Edwardes said the initiative offered a chance to engage beyond the ensemble’s existing supporter base.

“We love the idea that this partnership could introduce new music to people who might have never thought it was for them,” she said.

Aungle said Ensemble Offspring broadened the range of experiences available to voucher holders.

“Having Ensemble Offspring on board adds a different dimension to our music offerings … one that features new Australian works, emerging artists and under-represented talent,” he said.

Current Giving Culture partners also include the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian Theatre for Young People, Australian World Orchestra, Incognito Art Show and Sydney Film Festival.

For every voucher redeemed, 100 per cent of its value flows to participating arts organisations, while the value of expired vouchers is distributed among partners as donations.

Founded by arts subscribers seeking new ways to support the sector, Giving Culture positions the vouchers as both a corporate gift option and a mechanism for long-term arts sustainability.

For more information on Giving Culture and to discover what offers and events are available for voucher holders, visit givingculture.com.au