The Logan City Orchestras (LCO) will comprise a series of ensembles, each serving a unique role within our vibrant musical community. We are beginning with the Logan City Symphony Orchestra (LCSO)—the premier orchestra of the association—dedicated to showcasing exceptional talent and delivering high-quality performances. Our vision is to expand the LCO by establishing additional orchestras that provide clear pathways into the LCSO. These ensembles will nurture emerging talent, support developing musicians, and offer opportunities for players of various levels to progress toward the professional-level standard of the Symphony Orchestra. Together, these orchestras will form a cohesive and inspiring musical ecosystem within Logan City and the surrounding areas.

The Logan City Symphony Orchestra (LCSO) - LCO’s first orchestra - will be project-based, meaning it won’t rehearse weekly all year round.

The LCSO will be formed for each project with instrumentation suited to the repertoire.

Along with establishing a core set of players, we will also create a pool of musicians to draw upon for various projects. This pool will offer flexible membership for those wishing to participate project-by-project.

The number of rehearsals will be flexible and tailored to each project, with most involving 6 to 8 sessions, each lasting 2 to 3 hours. This approach ensures the rehearsal schedule aligns with the repertoire’s specific requirements and the musicians’ needs while enabling high-quality performances.

We welcome musicians from all walks of life with no age limit.

Membership is open to musicians of all ages who play orchestral strings, woodwinds, brass, or percussion instruments. We’re looking for players demonstrating at least an emerging pre-professional playing standard. For example, violinists should have achieved a minimum of AMEB Grade 8 or equivalent.

LCO will be:

• For high school students achieving exceptional performance levels, this is an opportunity to gain invaluable ensemble experience, play alongside seasoned musicians, and take the next step toward becoming a pre-professional performer.

• For tertiary music students and pre-professional musicians, the Symphony Orchestra offers a platform to refine your skills and prepare for the next stages of your musical career while performing at a professional standard.

• For music graduates and teachers, the orchestra provides a chance to continue your journey in performance, connect with a vibrant community, and share your expertise.

• For professional musicians, the LCO provides an opportunity to perform at a high level while giving back by mentoring the next generation of musicians and helping to build a legacy of musical excellence.

• For community and recreational musicians, whether you’ve performed in grassroots ensembles, church groups, or smaller community bands, this is a chance to take your playing to the next level and collaborate with musicians striving for excellence.

• For those reconnecting with their instrument, whether you’ve been away from playing for a few years or decades, we encourage you to rediscover your passion and aim for your previous high standards.

The program we’re planning reflects the orchestra’s artistic breadth and excitement for collaboration:

• Classical and Romantic: Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Dvořák, Tchaikovsky

• 20th Century and Contemporary: Copland, Holst, Nigel Westlake

• Cinematic and Modern: Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Piazzolla

• Local Collaborations: Logan region artists, for example emerging and established country musicians

This carefully curated mix of repertoire offers something for everyone and highlights the orchestra's commitment to engaging with both timeless works and the unique voices of our local community.

We are thrilled to announce our first project, supported by a Regional Arts Development Fund through Logan City Council, will be the inaugural concert of the LCO at the Logan Entertainment Centre on Friday 25 July. More details will be released soon!

Future projects are being developed and will include our concerts and exciting collaborations with other arts organisations across Logan City.

Rehearsals will be held at Canterbury College on Sundays from 1:00–4:00 PM, running weekly from May 18 to June 22. After a short break over the school holidays, we’ll have then have two final rehearsal on July 13 and July 20 leading up to our debut concert on Friday 25 July at the Logan Entertainment Centre.

When you apply (see Expression of Interest button below), we would like to let you know about your skills, experience, and enthusiasm for making great music.

This will include:

• Your contact details – so we can keep you in the loop.

• Your instrument(s) – let us know what you play!

• Your playing level – we’re looking for the equivalent of

  • AMEB Grade 8 or higher for most instruments, with the possible exceptions for instruments which are less commonly played.

• Your musical experience – whether it’s school orchestras, community orchestras or bands, or professional ensembles, we’d like to hear about it.

• Your current involvement in music – are you studying, teaching, performing, or playing recreationally?

• Your commitment to practising between rehearsals – so we can achieve something amazing together as an ensemble!

All musicians participating in the Logan City Orchestras (LCO) will contribute a membership fee of $20.00, payable annually per calendar year.

Additionally, there will be a flexible project-fee structure that aligns with our project-based approach. The project fee will be calculated on a project-by-project basis to ensure fairness and transparency while reflecting each project’s unique needs and scale.

Fee Cap: The total fees – membership and project –  will be capped at a maximum annual total of $120 per player, regardless of the number of projects participated during the year.

Financial Assistance: We understand that financial circumstances can vary; therefore, a project fee reduction may be offered on a case-by-case basis.

As a non-profit organisation, all funds raised by the LCO will be first used to cover operational costs and then to support its sustainability and growth, ensuring its future success aligning with our mission statement. We appreciate your support in helping us build a vibrant and sustainable musical community.

Note. The fee for our inaugural project is currently being calculated and will be released soon. And will be charged to cover essential costs, including rehearsal and performance venues and administrative expenses.