From time-to-time, we interrupt our normal programming to create special musical events. These might be live-to-air performance from our Founders Studio, a grouping of broadcasts that celebrate a composers work, or a consolidation of music from a number of performers.
This page is their home.
Each event below has a link that will take you to the event webpage, with information on the musicians and the music, with the facility to Listen Anytime to the special broadcast.
| Event | Description | Date |
| Classics from Asia | Classics from Asia presents the music of Asian civilisations, including practices with their roots in literati, court, folk, and early modern cosmopolitan music-making. This new monthly program will challenge the attitude that non-Eurocentric music is just ‘ethnic music’, focussing upon the classic and art music of Asia. Broadcast as part of Sunday evening’s Explorations, every 2nd Sunday of the month at 6pm. | 12 May |
| 100% Australian Made | On the first Monday of each month at 1pm, Fine Afternoons features a one hour program highlighting Australian composers and performers. 100% Australian Made. In each program in this new series, host Julie Simonds is joined by an Australian composer or performer. Together they will explore the background to a selection their compositions or recordings. This month’s studio guest was Mark John McEncroe | 6 May |
| 100% Australian Made | On the first Monday of each month at 1pm, Fine Afternoons features a one hour program highlighting Australian composers and performers. 100% Australian Made. In each program in this new series, host Julie Simonds is joined by an Australian composer or performer. Together they will explore the background to a selection their compositions or recordings. This month’s studio guest was Andrew Kennedy | 1 April |
| Classics from Asia | Classics from Asia presents the music of Asian civilisations, including practices with their roots in literati, court, folk, and early modern cosmopolitan music-making. This new monthly program will challenge the attitude that non-Eurocentric music is just ‘ethnic music’, focussing upon the classic and art music of Asia. Broadcast as part of Sunday evening’s Explorations, every 2nd Sunday of the month at 6pm. | 10 March |
| 100% Australian Made | On the first Monday of each month at 1pm, Fine Afternoons features a one hour program highlighting Australian composers and performers. 100% Australian Made. In each program in this new series, host Julie Simonds is joined by an Australian composer or performer. Together they will explore the background to a selection their compositions or recordings. This month’s studio guest was Chloe Charody. | 4 March |
| Fine Music Showcase | For our first Fine Music Showcase program for 2024, we welcome four varied performers. Alto Flute, Saxophone, Flute and Piano duo of Graham Jesse and Michael Bartolomei perform four of their own compositions. Clarinetist Justin Wang with accompanist Theresa Leung perform works by Mozart and Schumann. Isobel Archer presents Bach’s Toccata in D Minor. The Fabulous Baker Boys complete the program with works by Gregson, Peskin & Weber accompanied by Julia Brimo and a performance of a Brass Trio by J C Bach. Recorded in the 2MBS Founders Studio by Jayson McBride. | 11 February |
| Classics from Asia | Classics from Asia presents the music of Asian civilisations, including practices with their roots in literati, court, folk, and early modern cosmopolitan music-making. This new monthly program will challenge the attitude that non-Eurocentric music is just ‘ethnic music’, focussing upon the classic and art music of Asia. Broadcast as part of Sunday evening’s Explorations, every 2nd Sunday of the month at 6:00pm. | 11 February |
| Class Act | The March 2024 edition of Class Act includes a new jazz-fusion composition, ‘Incognito’, by Sydney Boys High School composer Benjamin Pirom.There’s an energetic performance of Bach’s Keyboard Concerto No 1 by pianist Aqueel Roshan of Sydney Technical High School. And the PLC Wind Ensemble plays a medley from Leonard Bernstein’s ‘West Side Story. All this and more, from outstanding Sydney secondary school music students at Kambala, Fort Street High, Barker College, and St Joseph’s College. | 30 March |
| Remembrance Day 2023 | 2MBS Fine Music Sydney respects and honours Australian service men and women who fell during World War 1, those who survived, and those who served at home. We respect and honour those who have served in other wars and battles since that time, and those who continue to serve. | 11 November |
| Class Act | The September 2023 edition of Class Act includes works by several student composers. We hear contributions from Hornsby Girls High School, Kambala, SCEGGS Darlinghurst, and the MLC School, Sydney. There are also performances of works by Liszt, Poulenc, Prokofiev, Ravel, and Sigmund Romberg. These recordings are of students who are moving towards mastery. There can be no doubt of their enthusiasm, nor their striving in quest of making fine music, with the devoted guidance of their mentors. | 30 September |
| As It Happened – Live At Founders | 2MBS Fine Music Sydney’s commitment to young Australian musicians again comes to the fore with Emergent Jazz presenting the Payge Eminovski Quartet, with Payge Eminovski on alto sax, James Burgess on double bass, Freddie Stafford on piano, and Alex Inman-Hislop on drums. Featuring an original track, as well as an Ellington and a Rollins piece, this performance is a triumph of improvisation. | 9 September |
| As It Happened – Live At Founders | More from our young jazz musicians, this edition of As It Happened features young songstress Tilly Street, accompanied by pianist Andrew Scott. Several jazz standards and a couple of originals, listen to this mature voice on young shoulders. | 26 August |
| Fine Music Showcase | Fine Music Showcase with three superb performances captured in our Founders’ Studio: ~ Opening the program is a solo recital by pianist John Martin, performing pieces by Australian composers Ann Carr-Boyd, Ross Edwards and his own composition The Everglades at Dawn. ~ Following on are the duo of cellist Rachel Siu and pianist Alexander Yau, performing two works by Chopin. ~ Closing out this broadcast are, 2MBS Artists in Residence, Nomad String Quartet performing arrangements of works by Mozart and Hisaishi alongside Scandinavian traditional pieces. | 13 August |
| Class Act | The July 2023 edition of Class Act includes music for solo piano, saxophone, symphonic orchestra, wind band, and choral singers. ~ We hear performances from our regular contributors: St Joseph’s College, The Presbyterian Ladies College, Fort Street High School, MLC School Sydney, and we welcome to our program young music-makers from Sydney Technical High School. ~ We’ll hear works by Schubert, Bach, Billy Strayhorn, Eric Whitacre, and more | 29 July |
| As It Happened – Live At Founders | Another of our recording-for-broadcast of young emerging jazz musicians continues our strategic goal of supporting young Australian musicians. This week’s Emergent Jazz brings young jazz songstress Leah Berry. Still on The Con campus, but getting out and about performing around Sydney. Leah has been performing since she was 15 and has featured in the annual Schools Spectacular celebration of extraordinary music from our State high schools. Playing with her in this recording session is guitarist Yannick Koffi, double bassist Nick Jansen, and drummer George Greenhill. They play a number of standards, along with some superb scatting and vocalising by Leah. Listen in, be entertained and delighted. This is a voice of our jazz future. | 15 July |
| As It Happened – Live At Founders | Continuing or commitment to young emerging jazz musicians with As It Happened – Live At Founders, we present The Motion Quartet, a young jazz group of significant talent off the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. They are Sarah Purdon on trumpet, Zac Sandilands on piano, Nick Jansen on double bass, and Jack Rosenzweig on drums. Captured in the Founders Studio before they depart on European and North American scholarships over the mid-year campus break, 30 minutes of original jazz. | 17 June |
| Fine Music Showcase | Tune into your favourite radio station, 2MBS Fine Music, to hear outstanding performances from: ~pianist Stephanie McCallum, ~guitarist Vladimir Gorbach, ~2MBS Jazz Artist-In-Residence ZODIAC, and ~The Sydney Mandolin Orchestra. Recorded in our Founders Studio, by Jayson McBride. | 14 May |
| International Jazz Day | Since 2011, UNESCO has designated 30th April as International Jazz Day, highlighting the diplomatic and uniting forces of jazz in all corners of the globe. FineJazz will be streaming A History Of Jazz In Australia off our website, and on-air, Classic Jazz at noon (dancing jazz from down under), and Jazz After Hours at 10:00pm (who’s who of Australian jazz musicians on the international stage.) | 30 April |
| Class Act | Something Old and Something New is the theme for our April 2023 edition of Class Act. We’ve selected some of the outstanding pieces previously broadcast, some not heard before, and some new compositions by student composers. Schools taking part are The Presbyterian Ladies College Sydney, St. Joseph’s College, Fort Street High School, and we welcome our newcomer, MLC School, Sydney. We’ll hear music by Beethoven, Bach, Chopin and Kodaly. Contemporary works by Luke Byrne, and Nathan Daughtrey. Some jazz, and some popular song. We’ll also hear two works by student composers Ruby Scott-Wishart and Emma Mahant. Young musicians, making music. Young musicians, in the making. | 29 April |
| Rachmaninov 150th anniversary | April marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of the last great exponent of Russian romanticism, Sergei Rachmaninov. Throughout April, we have scheduled 15 programs that exemplify his craft and the era. Check the schedule and Listen Back to the magic and mystery. | 1st-30th April |
| As It Happened – Live At Founders | 2MBS Fine Music Sydney has a key strategic focus on promoting young Australian musicians. Our Emergent Artists program typifies our approach. As It Happened – Live At Founders is a recording opportunity at 2MBS Fine Music Sydney for emergent musicians. This Saturday 25th March at 7:00pm, you will hear Abby, Andrew and also Arty with a selection of originals and a few well known tunes. Drummer Abby Constable is joined by guitarist Arthur Washington and keyboardist Andrew Scott for a burst of innovative energy. | 25 March |
| International Women’s Day | International Women’s Day (8 March) is a day for joining voices around the world and shout out message for equal rights: “Women’s rights are human rights!” The day recognises and celebrates all women, in all their diversities, embracing the facets and intersections of faith, race, ethnicity, gender or sexual identity, or disability. The day goes back to 1908, when women took to the streets of New York to protest appaling working conditions, fairer pay and voting rights. It’s a time to celebrate the achievements of women, whether social, political, economic or cultural. | 8 March |
| Fine Music Showcase | In our continuing focus on extraordinary Australian musicians, this month’s 2MBS Fine Music Showcase presents highlights from our 2022 season, featuring stunning performances captured live in our Founders Studio. Our performers include: pianist Andrew Yau; Andrew Dickeson Trio; vocal ensemble False Relations; classical guitarist Giuseppe Zangari; 2022 2MBS Artist-In-Residence, The Sydney Cello Quartet; Nexas Saxophone Quartet and jazz legend, Mark Isaacs. | 12 February |
| Édouard Lalo bicentenary | 2MBS Fine Music Sydney has recognised the magnificence and import of French composer, Édouard Lalo, in a three-part broadcast of his key works, corresponding with the bicentanary of his birth. | 27 January |
| Class Act | Class Act: Encore! featured a broad selection of previously unaired performances from the students at Fort Street High School; Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Sydney; St Joseph’s College; and Winmalee High School. The program featured vocal music, choral music, symphonic music, music for big band and for wind band. This episode aired contemporary classical works, something from the concert hall repertoire, something from the world of musical theatre, and some jazz standards. Listen to the fine playing of young musicians moving towards that mastery that is vital for the making of the fine music we admire. | 31 December |
| A Fine Christmas | 2MBS Fine Music Sydney wish you, your family, and your loved ones a joyous and tuneful Christmas. Our Daily Guide will give you all the details of programs that have been specially curated for Christmas Day. There are psalms and carols, symphonies and choral works, jazz and folk. | 25 December |
| Year10 Work Experience | 2MBS Fine Music Sydney has a goal of focussing on young musicians and composers. We opened our doors to Year 10 work-experience students, to get a flavour of life in a radio station. This episode of Emergent Jazz was curated and presented students from the Conservatorium High School. All classical musicians, they were challenged to find their instruments within the jazz idiom; a violinist, a violist and a cellist. And what a delight. Hear it in their voices. New skills; new discoveries; new experiences. | 16 November |
| Fine Music Showcase | In our continuing focus on extraordinary Australian musicians, this month’s Fine Music Showcase has four stunning performances captured live in our Founders Studio. Our performers include: classical guitarist Giuseppe Zangari; 2MBS Artist-In-Residence, The Sydney Cello Quartet; Nexas Saxophone Quartet; and a spontaneous improvised set from jazz legend, Mark Isaacs. | 13 November |
| Class Act | The second of our showcasing musical talent from school orchestras, bands and ensembles at several Sydney metropolitan high schools. The schools provided the recordings, and 2MBS Fine Music Sydney dedicated a Saturday afternoon to broadcast performances from Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Winmalee High School, Fort Street High School, and St Joseph’s College. Whether you’re a classical aficionado or just like to unwind, check out these young musicians in their approach to excellence. | 29 October |
| Young Virtuoso Award | Thanks to the support of 2MBS donors and supporters the Fine Music Young Virtuoso Award is an annual feature of the Fine Music Emerging Artists program. For over 30 years, aspiring musicians and singers have competed for the Young Virtuoso Award which brings with it career-boosting broadcast opportunities and cash prizes. The opportunities on offer include ongoing broadcast and performance opportunities for Alumni of YVA, a valuable learning experience and excellent preparation for those aspiring to a music career. | 9 October |
| Vaughan Williams: 150th anniversary | 2MBS Fine Music Sydney is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of the iconic composer Ralph Vaughan Williams on 12th October. A series of programs features his principal works, including all nine symphonies alongside music of his contemporaries. The series started on the 3rd September, and concluded on his birthday 12th October | 12 October |
| Fine Music Showcase | Fine Music Showcase is an exciting program of vibrant and varied music recorded live in our Founders’ Studio, presented by Julie Simonds and recorded by sound engineer Jayson McBride. Enjoy music from pianist Alexander Yau; jazz musicians Andrew Dickeson Trio (Andrew Dickeson:drums, Jacob Graham:bass and Peter Locke:piano); and the emerging Sydney-based vocal ensemble, False Relations (Liam Green:tenor, Austin O’Toole:tenor, Gabe Desiderio:baritone and Archie Tulk:bass) | 14 August |
| Class Act | A showcase of musical talent from school orchestras at several Sydney metropolitan high schools. The schools provided the recordings, and 2MBS Fine Music Sydney dedicated a Saturday afternoon to broadcast performances from Sydney Conservatorium High School, Symphonia Jubilate, Knox Grammar, and Northern Beaches Secondary College (Manly Campus). Whether you’re a classical aficionado or just like to unwind, check out these young musicians in their approach to excellence. | 30 April |