Help Us Beat Our Own Drum
Woollahra Philharmonic Orchestra is a community orchestra bringing the pleasure of live orchestral music to Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. Established in 1996 by local amateur musicians with support from Woollahra Municipal Council, it celebrates 30 years of music making in 2026.
The orchestra brings together up to 50 regular players, including amateurs, students and professionals of different ages and backgrounds. United by their love of music, members combine community participation with a professional approach to rehearsals and performances.
Based at Saint Columba Church in Woollahra, the orchestra presents four public programs each year, with musicians preparing over eight weeks during school terms. Its concerts offer audiences opportunities to experience orchestral works close to home, with a repertoire ranging from Mozart to Shostakovich.
The orchestra’s patrons include celebrated Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin and distinguished pianist Rachel Valler OAM. Earlier patrons included Margaret Whitlam and composer Peter Sculthorpe, reflecting its longstanding connections with Australia’s cultural life.
Alongside its concert program, the orchestra invites community support to help sustain its work. Its “Help Us Bang Our Own Drum” fundraising appeal seeks funds for new timpani, helping its percussionists perform at their best.
For audiences, players and supporters alike, Woollahra Philharmonic Orchestra provides a shared cultural experience: local people coming together to make music, nurture talent and enrich the wider community through the lasting enjoyment of live orchestral performance.
To help visit https://wpo.org.au/donations
