18 March 2011 Opera House Morning Tour

Ed Hossack, Committee Member of the Cambridge Society of NSW and in passing General Manager, Orchestra at Opera Australia, took advantage of his latter position and organised a terrific 2 hour tour behind the scenes of Australia's most iconic building the Sydney Opera House.  Opened in October 1973 the Sydney Opera House now hosts over 2,500 performances and around 8 million visitors per year. The group met at the Opera House stage door (there is only one for all six performing venues) and then following our guide, Anna Toltz, toured beneath the Opera House.  Opera was originally meant to be performed in the Concert Hall but then as costs escalated it was decided to move opera to the second smaller building and create the theatres down the west wing of the building.  The small size of the orchestra pit and lack of space in the wings only increased our admiration of the performers.  Finally there was an explanation of the TV monitors about the audience; they are there so the singers can see the conductor!!  Otherwise he would be invisible.

We then moved on to the Concert Hall where the YouTube orchestra was practising for their big performance that night.  We even had a few words from the conductor Micheal Tilsen Thomas!! Google YouTube Orchestra 2011 and you can see the whole performance including the spoctacular light show on the sails (easily the best that has ever been done).

We finished at the Utzon Room, which was reopened in 2008 and is the first interior designed by architect Jørn Utzon, who was the original architect for Sydney Opera House.  The room has a magnificent and rare easterly view of Sydney Harbour.

Thanks to Ed for organising this.  It was definitely one of the most interesting mornings I have spent in my 38 years in Sydney.  I arrived here the week the Opera House opened.  If anyone comes to Sydney there is no doubt that top of the bucket list is to attend a performance at the Opera House and then walk slowly down the forecourt steps following the performance.  I have done it dozens of times and the tingle down the back still happens.   (Written by Chris Golis - photos in the gallery)

19 February 2011 Garden Party Sancta Sophia College

Around 40 people attended the inaugural Garden Party held at Sancta Sophia College on 19 February 2011. 

The weather was perfect, the music from the jazz trio was excellent and the canapes supplied by the college kitchen were superb.  The drinks and conversation flowed.  Photos are on the gallery (Thank you Helen Cox for bringing a camera.)

Emily Baxter and Rhys Goodey did a great job getting this organised and from the feed back we are going to try to do this again next year as our kick off event.

9 December 2010 Annual Xmas Drinks

Vice-President Chris Dawson hosted the annual Xmas drinks at the Union, University and Schools Club on Thursday 9 December 2010.  Over 30 alumni turned up and the evening turned into a very convivial evening.  At one time your president was in a group of four people all from Sidney Sussex matriculating from 1964 to 2003 and all who had rowed for their college.  While it was a cash bar, excellent hors d'oeuvre were provided by the Club and paid for by the Society.

12 December 2010 Tennis Match

Nine players fronted and a picture is in the gallery.  Weather conditions were excellent both for the tennis and the BBQ held on the balcony of Chris Golis's house in Mosman.

28 November 2010 Annual Cricket Match versus Oxford

The Cambridge side played valiantly and came second.