As musicians around the world turn to the Internet to reach their audiences, the Greater Sydney Orchestra has launched its own initiative, Sydney Sessions, to support musicians during the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions on mass gatherings that have brought the arts industry to a stand-still.

Sydney Sessions. Photo © Greater Sydney Orchestra

Teaming up with Marrickville venue Create or Die, the Greater Sydney Orchestra’s model sees musicians perform on video with audiences invited to contribute on a ‘pay what you can’ basis. Contributions made to the project will be split between the project and the performers. “We need this – because our concert halls, our school teaching, our pubs and clubs, and our cafes and restaurants where musicians make their living are all being closed (for ‘at least’ six months, as the PM puts it),” Greater Sydney Orchestra CEO Andrew Quah tells Limelight. “We need hope.”

The series hopes to provide regular performances of “beautiful classical music, adventurous new Australian offerings, jazz favourites, electronic music and much more,” and has already seen musicians like harpist Emily Granger and saxophonist Andrew Smith perform, as well as the Vermillion Trio and cellist Lianah...