When you go to a stadium in Australia or even just a local footy match - singing, chanting and war cries are not uncommon. We’ve all been there - and experienced the power, that feeling, of people coming together and singing. 

In Britain is also the case for live orchestra events. But in Australia, this is unheard of. 

Enter Bourby Webster a pom from rural UK, who trained in classical live music at Oxford University and is now determined to change the zeitgeist around live orchestral performances in rural and regional Australia. 

When Bourby moved to Perth - it was for love. There was no thought, nor ambition to change the culture of music in Australia. 

But when her relationship failed…She looked around her and noticed a huge gaping hole in the culture of Australian orchestra. 

Her idea was to try and recreate the British model of touring a symphony orchestra to regional communities and so she created the Perth Symphony Orchestra; music for everyone, anywhere. 

People laughed. Asked if she was joking? ‘This is impossible, people won’t travel to come to an event like this’ They don’t need it, they don’t want it. There’s no doubt she’s been up against it. There’s a huge cultural ‘cringe’ to overcome.

To add - Western Australia already had a symphony orchestra, WASO which is longstanding, respected and well known. 

This is a Manson Podcast Network production in partnership with Rabobank Australia.