In 2011, the WA Youth Orchestras (WAYO) celebrate 21 years of continuous partnership with Woodside. In that time, this partnership has helped provide countless quality musical training and performance opportunities for young people, many of whom have gone on to stellar careers.
The Woodside Young Professionals Program assists young and emerging artists aged 16 to 25 years during the crucial early years of their professional careers.
The Woodside mentorship and leadership program provides professional musicians, such as members of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, to regularly sit in and mentor advanced WAYO members in rehearsals and tutor sections of the orchestra. This provides meaningful and ongoing contact with the professional sector for young musicians.
The international conductor season provides one of the world’s leading conductors to work with WAYO in a week of rehearsal that culminates in a performance at the Perth Concert Hall.
The Woodside String Quartet and Outreach Ensemble, comprising members of the Young Professionals Program, provides an extensive performance schedule and all members are paid full professional rates. The quartet also represents WAYO and Woodside when performing at corporate events throughout Perth.
A 21-year corporate partnership is quite rare for an arts organisation. Thanks to this partnership, WAYO has been able to invest in programs for its young and emerging professionals and not just raise income for survival. There have been clear benefits for Woodside employees too, with entertainment opportunities and the chance to meet musicians or become more involved with the orchestra.
Social investment is regarded by Woodside as an essential element in the company’s sustainable communities framework. For Woodside, this partnership is an opportunity to demonstrate its long-term commitment to the cultural maturity and sustainability of Western Australia, while receiving wide-ranging brand recognition and access to the WAYO alumni network.
Benefits to the business
- Brand recognition in all WA Youth Orchestras’ publications and online
- Stakeholder engagement with other sponsors and all levels of government
- Access to WA Youth Orchestras’ Alumni from the last 36 years
- Access to a live audience in excess of 30,000 per annum
- Entertainment and benefits for staff and their families
Benefits to arts organisation
- Funding for programs and access to world renowned musicians and conductors
- A contribution that has grown from $5,000 in 1991 to $100,000 in each of the last three years
- Capacity to expand beyond a concert presenting organisation to an active mentor, contributor and leading provider to the wider Western Australian community
How they make it work
- The Woodside Young Professionals Program is the result of both partners identifying a great need within the musical community of Perth as well as avenues for growth.
- WAYO’s Executive Director and a Woodside Community Relations Adviser conduct regular reviews and meetings to manage the partnership and maximise benefits.
“Our partnership provides talented young Western Australians opportunities to present outstanding concerts for thousands of audience members every year. WAYO’s Woodside sponsored programs have also had a profound impact on so many young Western Australian musicians, by supporting and helping them reach beyond their potential.”
WAYO Executive Director Ben Burgess