How the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic have adapted to keep classical music alive.

In 1853 in Melbourne, a group of civic leaders and music enthusiasts formed a not for profit organization; the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic (RMP), to bring musical culture of a high standard to the early colony of Victoria. Since that time the RMP has presented performances at many historic occasions in this city, such as the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880, the opening of the First Australian Parliament in 1901, the opening of the Melbourne Town Hall, and the 1956 Olympic Games.

This year RMP celebrates 161 years in Melbourne, making it Australia’s oldest surviving cultural organisation and one of the oldest secular choirs in the world. Today, the 120-voice RMP Choir and RMP Orchestra continue to present critically acclaimed performances to national and international audiences. Operating and performing under the supervision of the RMP’s quintessential and internationally acclaimed Music Director, Andrew Wailes, the RMP is also committed to the encouragement and fostering of young musicians, and is recognised by many as Melbourne’s premier symphonic choir.

In recent years the RMP choir has appeared at many iconic Melbourne events; from ANZAC Day Dawn Services at...