The Australian Strings Association (AUSTA) celebrates its 50th Golden Jubilee anniversary in 2025 and presents its National Conference at the Sydney Conservatorium on July 11-13 2025.

The Australian Strings Association (AUSTA) is a not-for-profit association of string teachers, players and string instrument makers. As part of our Golden Jubilee conference we have commissioned a new work for string orchestra by the renowned Australian Composer Gerard Brophy with the support of the Kendall National Violin Competition. The "Song over the Earth" is inspired by Rilke’s Song of Orpheus, Book I, 19 and is currently completed by the composer.

The new work will be performed on the opening day of the conference at the Sydney Conservatorium on July 11 2025.

We are now inviting donations to support this composition honouring the heroes of Australian String Playing and Teaching living or passed.

A subscriber will be able to nominate a string player or teacher who has powerfully contributed to the advancement of music and pedagogy through their artistry, teaching, dedication, inspiration or advocacy over the past 50 years in Australia. We encourage nominations based on personal encounters. Nominations are a great way of acknowledging your gratitude to the artist and teacher who has inspired your musical life most importantly and to honour their work as a hero to all!

The standard amount to subscribe, support and nominate your inspiration is $ 75. This amount is fully tax deductible and the ticket is issued as a tax receipt. You can make multiple nominations with multiple donations.

Supporters will be listed on the printed edition of the work. Donors can elect to remain anonymous. Nominations are listed in alphabetical order in the concert program and in the dedication of the work.

PLEASE DONATE AND NOMINATE

Song Over the Earth

Though the world changes swiftly/ Like cloud formations,

All that is complete falls/ to a primordial place.

Beyond change and progress, / farther and freer,

sounds your prelude still / God with the lyre.

Suffering is not grasped, /Love is not learned,

And what separates us in death

Is not unveiled.

The song alone, over the earth,

Sanctifies and Celebrates.

(Rainer Maria Rilke, Songs of Orpheus. Book 1, 19)