Orchestra Wraps Up Tour in Territory Style – Airnorth

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Orchestra Wraps Up Tour in Territory Style

In the final movement of the first orchestral tour in a decade, Darwin Symphony Orchestra soars home in style in a new partnership with Airnorth, after travelling over 1000km to bring beautiful orchestral music across the Territory.

The whole orchestra hit the road last week for an NT Tour, in a mammoth effort that saw two buses, a truck and a few cars in convoy down the Stuart Highway to bring four incredible and unique shows to Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.

Darwin Symphony Orchestra (DSO) were joined by special local musicians in each location, bringing a unique twist to each show.

In Katherine, up-and-coming artist with deep Territory roots Gypsy Schmidt played her own original songs with the orchestra.

Tennant Creek audience members heard a suite of orchestral favourites under the night sky and the debut of new songs in Warumungu performed by Rosemary Plummer, Marlene Plummer and Miriam Frank, as well as Dr Shellie Morris AO and a children’s choir.

In Alice Springs, DSO performed in magic of Parrtjima – A Festival in Light at Alice Springs Desert Park joined by Desert Divas Catherine Satour, Casii Williams and Bronwyn Stuart each performing an original song with the orchestra. The tour ended with a chamber music performance where DSO musicians took the stage in Araluen Arts Centre with the Alice Springs World Chamber Orchestra in a series of delicate duets, quintets and quartets in a concerto of stunning classical music.

With a four-day road trip to reach Alice Springs from Darwin, DSO is proud to partner with many local organisations who could make this tour possible.

A huge challenge was finding a way to fly home, which was only possible by the new partnership with Airnorth that has chartered a plane from Darwin to Alice Springs, just to bring our musicians home.

DSO General Manager Kate Stephens said the new partnership with Airnorth is a game-changer for DSO.

“This is a game-changer for DSO, which as a not-for-profit, we have a responsibility to use our funding sensibly. DSO has had a long history of partnership with Airnorth in the past, and we are happy to join forces again.

“The tour has been fantastic, and incredibly special to bring orchestral magic and collaborate with local artists in each location to share music that is meaningful to each town.”

Airnorth General Manager Commercial, Julian Barry said supporting the arts, culture and not-for-profit sector is deeply aligned with the airline’s values.

“Airnorth is proud to play a part in helping bring music and culture to communities across the Territory,” Mr Bowden said.

“As a Territory airline, we understand the importance of connecting people—not just through travel, but through shared experiences that uplift, inspire and bring us closer together. Supporting DSO is one way we can give back to the community and help ensure the arts continue to thrive, no matter how remote the location.”

From production logistics with E3 Productions that built stages in each location with the help of performance partners, to local caterers Bay Leaf Café in Tennant Creek that kept over 70 musicians and staff well fed, and a local charter company Bodhi Bus that taxied everyone around town as well as to concert locations – this tour would not have been possible without the support of Territory businesses.