To mark its 45th anniversary, the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra presents a bold and unprecedented musical event: a three-day Beethoven Festival, uniting four orchestras to perform the complete symphonic cycle of Ludwig van Beethoven. Hosted at the iconic Ulumbarra Theatre, this landmark event celebrates not only a composer whose music helped define the modern world, but also the visionary spirit of regional and national artistic collaboration. 

The grand finale on Sunday afternoon unites forces for Beethoven’s mighty Symphony No. 9, featuring the newly formed BSO Chorus, guest soloists, and a massed BSO Festival Orchestra under the baton of Artistic Director Luke Severn. This festival is more than a concert series — it is a regional cultural beacon, which will welcome audiences and performers from across Australia and beyond for a once-in-a-generation experience of artistic depth, civic pride, and musical joy.