Moreton Bay Symphony Orchestra

The Moreton Bay Symphony Orchestra (MBSO) is a new Australian orchestra, based in the Moreton Bay Region in the state of Queensland.
The MBSO was formed from two previous orchestras: the Redcliffe City Orchestra and the Seaside Symphony Orchestra, both of which were conducted by Bronwyn Gibbs. Attached to this orchestra is the MBSO Youth Symphony which aims to create a stepping stone from leaving school to being in an adult orchestra.
Before the amalgamation
The idea that Redcliffe City Orchestra and the Seaside Symphony Orchestra would combine was put forward in mid-2011. The orchestras were close geographically and a number of members played in both. In addition, both orchestras were conducted by the same conductor, Bronwyn Gibbs.
After the decision to amalgamate was made, an amalgamation committee was formed and it was agreed that the new amalgamated orchestra would begin in 2012.
Redcliffe City Orchestra
Redcliffe City Orchestra (RCO) was founded in 1977 as the Margate Music Group and was renamed in 1990 as the Redcliffe Orchestral Society (Inc.). In 2001 the name was changed again to what it was until the end of 2011: the Redcliffe City Orchestra (Inc.), based in Redcliffe, Queensland. It rehearsed at the Clontarf Beach State High School hall. This orchestra performed music generally of the Australian Music Examinations Board standard Grade 5 or above and hence there was a six-week trial period to gauge new members.
Bronwyn Gibbs has been the musical director of RCO since 2008.
RCO being a non-profit organization was assisted by Orchestra Friends who took annual subscriptions for concerts each year. By becoming a Friend, the person received discounted ticket prices for all the major concerts and also received the quarterly newsletter, Newsbeat.
Attached to RCO was a Jazz Group that played jazz, swing and some popular music. This was formed in 2003 by four members from RCO. The Jazz Group played for numerous civic and private events and began having two cabaret nights each year. The instruments included in the Jazz group depending on which members were involved.
The Moreton Bay Symphony Orchestra aims to restart the Jazz Band for MBSO members in 2013.
Seaside Symphony Orchestra
Seaside Symphony Orchestra (SSO) was founded in 2000 and was based in Sandgate, Queensland. They rehearsed at the same as RCO. Unlike RCO, Seaside did not have any entry requirements.
Bronwyn Gibbs had been SSO's musical director since 2000.
Events that SSO used to perform at such as Music by the Sea and the Einbunpin Festival, will now be performed by either MBSO or the MBSO Youth Symphony.
Moreton Bay Symphony Orchestra
On the 21st of October 2011 the Redcliffe City Orchestra website (www.rco.org.au) announced that in the next year RCO will become the Moreton Bay Symphony Orchestra (Inc.) due to the amalgamation of Redcliffe City Orchestra and Seaside Symphony Orchestra. This was then followed by the creation of a new Facebook page (www.facebook.com/moretonbaysymphonyorchestra) and an announcement that a new youth orchestra named MBSO Youth Symphony would begin in 2012 along with the Moreton Bay Symphony Orchestra.
In November 2011, Redcliffe City Orchestra posted the 2012 Concert Series flyer for the new Moreton Bay Symphony Orchestra which also included the new MBSO logo designed by Alexander Rodrigues, a member of the orchestra. RCO's last newsletter (the November edition) also included the new logo design and informed the orchestra's Friends about the amalgamation.
Although the Moreton Bay Symphony Orchestra officially started in 2012, 3 concerts were held in December of 2011 under the new name MBSO. The first of these concerts was at Christmas by the Sea on 3 December 2011.
MBSO will continue to work with the organisations traditionally worked with by both RCO and SSO in order to continue bringing music to the Moreton Bay region. Some organisations/venues that will be co-worked with in the future are:
*JAFA (St. Joseph's and St. Anthony's Fellowship of the Arts) for Musicals and the JAFA Community Choir
*Brisbane Concert Orchestra
*Sandgate Town Hall
*Clontarf Beach State High School
*Eventide Retirement Village
*Redcliffe Cultural Centre
*Mueller Performing Arts Centre
*St Paul's School, Bald Hills
*Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic school, Enoggera
*Queensland Musical Theatre
*Redcliffe Musical Theatre
The Moreton Bay Symphony Orchestra is a not-for-profit community orchestra, where members voluntarily give their time and musical expertise to play music. They rehearse at the Clontarf Beach State High School Hall.
MBSO Youth Symphony
Along with the announcement on RCO's website about MBSO is starting in 2012 came the announcement that a new orchestra will also begin. This orchestra is named the MBSO Youth Symphony and is intended for younger musicians of the Moreton Bay community aged under 25.The MBSO Youth Symphony performs solo and in conjunction with the adult orchestra: MBSO.
The MBSO Youth Symphony was formed as “many young musicians stop playing when school is finished due to the fact that there is no orchestra or band available. Our youth symphony is the perfect solution!!!” ~ Bronwyn Gibbs.<ref name="concert series" />
New members for the MBSO Youth Symphony have to audition to be admitted to the orchestra. Re-applying members must re-audition each year to place them accordingly with any new members. Applicants must prepare a piece of their own choice to play for the audition as well as the set audition pieces.<ref name="MBSO Youth Symphony" />
Musical Director
The Moreton Bay Symphony Orchestra's current conductor is Bronwyn Gibbs. Gibbs is a strings specialist who is head of extra-curricular music at St Paul's School, Bald Hills.
Gibbs has an associateship (ATCL) and licentiateship (LTCL) in violin from Trinity College London. She went on to complete a Diploma of Creative Arts (Music) which she compleated at the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba. In addition, she has a Graduate Certificate in Instrumental Pedagogy, a Graduate Certificate in Music Studies and a Master of Music Studies compleated at the University of Queensland. She also has an associateship in piano from the Trinity College London.

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