Orchestra History

Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra

also known as the

Karrinyup Symphony Orchestra

The Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra (MetSO), was established in 1977 as the Karrinyup Symphony, and during the 70s and 80s rehearsed and performed in the Community Centre adjacent to the Library at the back of the Karrinyup Shopping Centre.

In the early 1990s the orchestra was invited to relocate to Churchlands Senior High School, and then subsequently changed their name to the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra in 1993 (thank you to the City of Stirling Libraries for contributing to our ongoing history project).

MetSO’s former Patron was Sir Charles Court, 21st Premier of Western Australia, who was also an excellent musician and conductor. Our Patron from March 2021 was The Honourable Kim Beazley AC, 33rd Governor of Western Australia.

The Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra is honoured to have :
His Excellency
The Honourable Christopher John Dawson AC APM
Governor of Western Australia
as our esteemed Patron (2022-

In 2022 we celebrated our 45th Anniversary, and the 10th Anniversary of our MetSO Young Artist program.

The orchestra was founded by the exceptional Marguerite Hinwood, and our original artist was none other than pianist David Helfgott, working under the baton of our founding Conductor Frank Arndt (David’s teacher). David performed a series of concertos with the orchestra in the early 80s; his supportive brother Les Helfgott being one of our original violinists. Orchestra members drove David to and from rehearsals from his accommodation in Scarborough.

MetSO is a not-for-profit charity and community organisation, with members from all over Perth. MetSO is home to over 140 musicians and our concerts attract up to 2000 people a year. Our dedicated musicians include students and teachers, professional and amateur musicians, united by a common interest and passion. We perform at least four concerts a year in a wide variety of styles, from major symphonies to light classics, popular music as well as contemporary and new works by Western Australian composers.

A wonderful timeline of the orchestra’s first 40 years was produced by MetSO Life Member Maxinne Sclanders - it includes a dizzying array of famous names - Sir Charles Court, David Helfgott, Antony Peebles, Taryn Fiebig …

Link to view / download :

Thanks to Wiese Visuals (Perth) for their historical photos of the orchestra.
(Taken during the MetSO’s 2011 Winter Concert season)

The Vault

Concert Archive