Sydney University Musical Society

The Sydney University Musical Society (SUMS) is an undergraduate choral society at the University of Sydney.^[2] Founded in 1878,^[2] it is one of the oldest secular choirs in Australia, and the oldest Australian University Choir.^[3]

Sydney University Musical Society

Abbreviation	SUMS
Formation	1878
Type	University Choir
Location	The University of Sydney
Region	Sydney, Australia
Current Conductor	Michael Bradshaw
Current President	Georgia Marston[1]
Current Secretary	Esha-Lee Dalwood[1]
Current Treasurer	Elliot Lombard[1]
Website	sums.aicsa.org.au

SUMS has performed many great works over its lifetime, including the Australian premiere performances Bach's Mass in B minor and St Matthew Passion in 1880; premiere performances of Martin and Peter Wesley Smith's Songs of Australia for the Australian Bicentenary in 1988, the world premiere of Nicholas Routley's Mycenae Lookout in 1998, and world premiere of Anne Boyd's carol, A Lullaby of the Nativity, written for SUMS in 2003. The Musical Society has performed with orchestras such as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Sydney Youth Orchestra and the SBS Youth Orchestra. SUMS' conductor of 23 years, Ben Macpherson, retired from his post of musical director in mid-2006, with his final performance with the society being Mendelssohn's Elijah, performed in the Great Hall of the University of Sydney.

In 2015, SUMS also hosted the 66th Annual Intervarsity Festival, delivering an astounding performance of Verdi's Messa da Requiem. Outside of rehearsals and performances, SUMS regularly hosts events for its members as well, including picnics, trivia nights at the pub, camps, and the annual Academic Dinner.^[3]

Recent SUMS Performances

Year	Program
2010	Mozart's Great Mass in C minor
	Fauré's Requiem
2011	Duruflé's Requiem
2012	Verdi's Requiem ∞
2013	J.S. Bach's Magnificat in D major
	Vivaldi's Gloria
2014	Vivaldi's Magnificat
	Karl Jenkins' Stella Natalis
2015	Mendelssohn's Elijah †
	Vaughan Williams' Mass in G minor
2016	Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2 the Resurrection Symphony[3]
2017	Edward Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38 ∞[4]
	Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 †[5]
2018	Sergei Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky cantata ∞[6]
	Paul Stanhope's The Land is Healed. Ban.garay![7]
	Henry Purcell's Ode to St. Cecilia[7]

∞ Collaborate with Sydney Conservatorium of Music Symphony Orchestra, Choir and Chamber Choir

† Collaborate with Sydney University Symphony Orchestra

See also

Australian Intervarsity Choral Societies Association