Casey Philharmonic Orchestra

SEEKING: STRING AND PERCUSSION PLAYERS 📣 Are you a musician based in Melbourne's south-east? Do you love space, and space-themed music? We are preparing some large works for our upcoming space-themed concert, and are seeking additional string and percussion players to help boost our ranks! 🤩 2026: A Space Odyssey – Moon, Mars & Beyond Saturday July 25 | 7:30–9:30pm Bunjil Place, Narre Warren Featuring an exciting repertoire list including Holst's 'The Planets', Strauss' 'Also sprach Zarathustra', and music from Star Wars, ET, Interstellar, Doctor Who, and more! For full details and to submit your expression of interest, please visit our website here: .au/a-space-odyssey-sign-up #cityofcasey #caseyphilharmonicorchestra #communityorchestra #melbourneorchestra

⏰ACTION ADVENTURE: TONIGHT ONLY! 😱 May 2, 7:30PM | @bunjil_place Some more BTS footage from our fabulous musicians! This is your FINAL CHANCE to book tickets to come see us perform tonight - don't miss out! .au/action-adventure Featuring some of the BEST soundtracks in action-adventure media, like Gladiator, Hook, How To Train Your Dragon, King Kong, and Indiana Jones - come join us on May 2nd for an evening of excitement and adventure! 🤠 Book here 👇 .au/action-adventure 🗓 Sat 2 May, 7:30pm 📍Bunjil Place Theatre #caseyphilharmonicorchestra #actionadventure #moviemusic #gladiator #backtothefuture #indianajones #howtotrainyourdragon

CPO PRESENTS: Action and Adventure AT 7:30PM TODAY! Don't miss your chance - book now! 🥳 .au/action-adventure Swashbuckling pirates, exciting escapades, and daring rescues: embark on an adventure with the Casey Philharmonic Orchestra as we explore some of the best soundtracks in action-adventure media! Travel to the past as we explore the ancient ruins in Indiana Jones, and step through battles for glory from the world of Gladiator. Then, travel Back to the Future with us to explore even more thrilling soundtracks from movies like Pirates of the Caribbean, How to Train Your Dragon, Hook, King Kong, and many more! Orchestra in costume! Come in cosplay for your chance to win fantastic prizes. 🤩 TICKETS REMAINING - book your tickets TODAY! 👇👇 🎟️ .au/action-adventure 📍 @Bunjil Place Theatre 📅 Sunday 2 May 2026 7:30-9:30pm

Action and Adventure - on TOMORROW! 😱 SAT MAY 2, 7:30PM, Bunjil Place .au/action-adventure Have you booked your ticket yet to see us performing tomorrow? Swashbuckling pirates, exciting escapades, and daring rescues: embark on an adventure with the Casey Philharmonic Orchestra as we explore some of the best soundtracks in action-adventure media!! ✨ Come in costume for a chance to win prizes! 🥳 DON'T MISS OUT! 👇 .au/action-adventure @bunjil_place Theatre May 2, 7:30PM 🎻 #caseyphilharmonicorchestra #moviemusic #classicalmusic #whatson #filmmusic #filmscore #melbourneorchestras #BunjilPlace

SAT MAY 2, 7:30-9:30PM, Bunjil Place .au/action-adventure Swashbuckling pirates, exciting escapades, and daring rescues: embark on an adventure with the Casey Philharmonic Orchestra as we explore some of the best soundtracks in action-adventure media!😍👑 Come in costume for a chance to win prizes! 🥳 Limited tickets available - book NOW to save your seat! 👇 .au/action-adventure Sat 2 May 2026, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm @bunjil_place Theatre #caseyphilharmonicorchestra #moviemusic #classicalmusic #whatson #Backtothefuture #harrypotter #filmmusic #filmscore #melbourneorchestras #BunjilPlace #httyd #HansZimmer

The leader of our second violin section is Gerard Tan! 😮 Gerry began learning the violin in his 40s. He has continued playing into his 60s and initially began playing with the Maroondah Symphony orchestra (which he still continues). He has been playing with the Casey Philharmonic since its inception. He has played with the Nicholas Orchestra and the Dandenong Ranges Orchestra. 🔥 He was brought up on classical music and is a great enthusiast of orchestral music. He assists the orchestra as the upper strings manager. He says he can’t sing and that is why he plays an instrument. He works as a general practitioner when he is not playing the violin. 😎

The concertmaster is the principal first violin and the highest-ranking musician in an orchestra, second only to the conductor. They lead the string section, determine bowings, set the tuning pitch, and often play solo passages. Our concertmaster is Rebecca Parfitt!!! 😎 Rebecca studied violin and then viola and obtained a Bachelor of Music with honours from the Victorian College of the Arts and subsequently a Master of Music Studies degree from the University of Melbourne. 🔥 She has performed as soloist with Hopkins Sinfonia and the U3A Hawthorn Orchestra and most recently in 2024 with the Australasian Orchestra (AO) with the Bruch Double Concerto for Clarinet and Viola. Rebecca taught music at schools for over 20 years and now works in the print music industry where every piece of music is only metres away from her - musicians heaven! 🥰

The leader of the CPO's Viola section is Damien Melis. Damien currently plays Viola and has been with the CPO since the beginning. He is co-leader of the Viola section and a General Committee Member. 😮 Outside of CPO, Damien is the RMIT Music Collectives Musical Director and Conductor for Orchestra and Concert Band, and has been a prominent figure at RMIT Music scene from 2008. Damien also plays with Engineering Music Society at Melbourne University since 2016 on bassoon and Oboe/English Horn. Closer to home Damien plays Bassoon with the Cardinia Civic Concert Band, and has travelled to Europe with them. 🔥 Damien has a deep passion for early music, and informed historical performance. Recorder has become one of Damien’s favourite instruments to play. Beyond his musical adventures, Damien’s has a PhD in Aerospace Engineer and work for the Defence Aviation Safety Authority.😎

⏰ACTION ADVENTURE: NEXT WEEKEND! 😱 May 2, 7:30PM | @bunjil_place A sneak peek into some of our latest rehearsals leading up to our concert THIS SATURDAY! We can't wait to show you the exciting music we've been working on. Don't miss it! Don't wait - book TODAY to avoid disappointment! Link in bio. Featuring some of the BEST soundtracks in action-adventure media, like Gladiator, Hook, How To Train Your Dragon, King Kong, and Indiana Jones - come join us on May 2nd for an evening of excitement and adventure! 🤠 Book from the link in our bio today! 🗓 Sat 2 May, 7:30pm 📍Bunjil Place Theatre #caseyphilharmonicorchestra #actionadventure #moviemusic #gladiator #backtothefuture #indianajones #howtotrainyourdragon

MERCH ALERT! ‘Action Adventure’ Sat May 2, 7:30pm @ @bunjil_place Music from Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean, How to Train Your Dragon and more! Tickets @ .au/events/cpo-action-adventure CPO will have an exciting selection of action/adventure-themed merchandise for sale on performance day, including handcrafted bandanas (so you can look the part on your next expedition), and awesome magnets in a variety of designs to keep your priceless treasure maps secure on the fridge! Come browse the full range of items on offer at the CPO merch stall - all monies raised from sales go directly to our orchestra to help us keep the music playing. Also, in addition to the show’s regular FREE collector pin, attendees might add a FREE limited-edition VIP (Very Important Pin) to their badge collection, celebrating the return to the CPO concert podium of our much-cherished Chief Conductor, Kent Ross! – but only while stocks last… enquire at the merch stall in the Bunjil Place foyer. See you there! #LoveCPO #SupportLiveMusic

The leader of the CPO's Double Bass section is Declan Coleman 😮 Having begun his musical journey on piano, Declan started playing double bass at the ripe old age of 8 (later adding trombone to his repertoire), playing in a variety of orchestras and ensembles at school, as well as at Melbourne Youth Orchestras and State Music Camp for many years. At 12 he played Dvořák’s iconic ‘New World’ Symphony with Stonnington Symphony, and at 16 worked with maestro Ingrid Martin, graduating from her inaugural High School Conducting Academy.🔥 Declan also loves to compose. His most recent full work, The Dwarf Planets, is a five-movement suite for orchestra that shines a musical light on some lesser-known celestial objects in our Solar System, taking its inspiration from Gustav Holst’s 1914-17 masterwork The Planets. 😎 A member since 2019, Declan embraces the unique opportunities CPO provides and its mantra of ‘doing orchestra differently’. He has arranged pieces for CPO performances, including for the enormously popular ‘From Memphis with Love’ show in 2024, and particularly enjoys any concerts that require a costume despite the considerable challenges it can pose when playing such a large and unwieldy instrument! Declan is currently completing the third year of his BA/B Music Composition double degree, and away from music enjoys politics, true crime, analog horror, and lost media.

The final leader of the Brass section is Colin Harrison!!!🔥 Colin has been passionately involved in the in the community music sector for over 50 years. During that time he has been a member of many bands and orchestras as well as holding numerous committee positions.😎 In a professional capacity Colin worked in the utilities, mining and airports sector in positions such as National Engineering Manager for AGL, Principal Engineer with Downer and Tenix Alliance. He has extensive experience in leadership, risk management, strategic planning, business development and project management.🤯 Colin was a co-founder and former director of Skunkworks Productions Ltd and was the Project Director for “The Silent Anzac” project to commemorate the Armistice Centenary in 2018. He has organized and managed international tours for bands to Europe and NZ. In 2023 Colin was awarded the Order of Australia for services to community music.