Georgia Lowe, from the UNSW Music Performance Unit sat down with Dr Steven Hillinger, conductor of the UNSW Orchestra, ahead of the start of the 2025 season…
What do you enjoy most about conducting the UNSW Orchestra?
There are so many things I enjoy about conducting the UNSW Orchestra, but most of all I would say it’s the fact that all these talented musicians from across the University come together every week to rehearse and work together to create something incredibly special, which we then share with those who come to listen to us.
What are you looking forward to in the Term 1 program?
I like that fact that we’ve programmed a very diverse range of music. Each piece highlights different sections of the orchestra meaning that everyone gets to shine.
‘Le Chasseur Maudit’ (‘The Accursed Hunter’) by the French composer Cesar Franck, is a really exciting work that rarely gets performed these days, so I’m particularly excited about that one.
What is your favourite song/piece of music?
I’m not sure I could narrow it down to one piece, although it was Beethoven’s 5th Symphony that started me on my musical journey, so that piece is very special to me. In the car though, I’ve been listening to ‘Quiet on Set’ by Remi Wolf – that piece really gets me pumped! (almost as much as Beethoven).
Favourite place to eat out in Sydney?
I have always loved ‘Corner 75’, the Hungarian restaurant in Randwick. The owners have just recently sold it, but the new owners have promised to keep it as a Hungarian restaurant, so I’m looking forward to their re-opening. I spend quite a lot of time on the North Shore and also enjoy getting brunch at Café Eighty-Ate in North Sydney.
