MOST musicians have their own instruments, which is just as well because when the South Side Symphony Orchestra set up in 2011 things were tight.

“We had to ask people to bring their own music stands,” founder and president Irene Wright recalls with a smile.

These days the SSSO pumps out four to five concerts a year, and things are going as sweetly as a Chopin composition.

The southern suburbs group is the newest community orchestra in WA, thanks to the passion of Wright and a musician friend, growing from 23 to 55.

“We’ve filled every position in an orchestra,” Wright says, adding there’s room for more, especially violinists.

• The South Side Symphony Orchestra—playing Freo August 2.

SSSO is set to perform in the Fremantle town hall, in a show dedicated entirely to Australian composers, a first for a WA orchestra, Wright says.

“It’s sad that in Australia we focus on standard classical music. The talent [here] is amazing.”

They’ll be led by new musical director Aaron Wyatt who comes from an impressive, and eclectic background including conducting the WA Youth Orchestra, and a member of the nationally acclaimed Decibel new music ensemble: “[And] is with the Spooky Men of the West,” Wright says.

The show, which features legendary composer Peter Sculthorpe’s work, along with those of Graeme Koenhe and Percy Grainger, is on Sunday August 2, 2pm. Tix $15 from dts0906@gmail.com

by JENNY D’ANGER