Teachers Mutual Bank and Sydney Symphony Orchestra announce Platinum Partnership

13 October 2026

Teachers Mutual Bank and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra are proud to announce a new Platinum Partnership which will bring live orchestral music to more schools and communities across New South Wales.

Commencing at the start of the Orchestra's 2027 Season, Teachers Mutual Bank will support Sydney Symphony for Schools as Presenting Partner for the program across every stage of schooling, from Kindergarten through to Year 12 at participating schools.

Each year, Sydney Symphony for Schools reaches more than 14,000 students and around 1,000 teachers. For many, it is their first time hearing a live orchestra, and the music they study in class takes on a new scale and immediacy. This new partnership will help strengthen the program, supporting its continued delivery to students and teachers across the state.

"As we fast approach 2027, I am thrilled to announce our new Platinum Partnership with Teachers Mutual Bank," said Craig Whitehead, Chief Executive Officer of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. "Learning & Engagement is how we open this Orchestra to students, teachers and families across New South Wales, and our Schools Program is central to that work. Every experience, from a student's very first concert to a performance that brings their classroom learning to life, is made possible by a teacher. Teachers Mutual Bank's support will help us take that work even further."

Teachers Mutual Bank Limited Chief Executive Officer Anthony Hughes said the partnership aligns strongly with the bank's belief in the transformative power of education and opportunity.

"As a bank founded by teachers 60 years ago, we understand the difference that education can make in a person's life," Mr Hughes said. "We also know that some of the most meaningful learning experiences happen beyond the textbook or traditional classroom setting.”

“Music has a unique ability to inspire confidence, creativity and connection, and every child should have the opportunity to experience that. The Sydney Symphony for Schools Program helps make those experiences more accessible for students regardless of postcode or family background and supports teachers in bringing learning to life in new and engaging ways."

As presenting partner, Teachers Mutual Bank will support:

• For Schools: Ready, Set, Listen! offering lively, interactive 30-minute concerts that introduce students in Kindergarten to Year 2 to classical music.
• Schools Concerts giving students in Years 3 to 8 a colourful introduction to the full orchestra, showing how composers bring music to life.
• Two series designed for students in Years 9 to 12.
  - Listen to This for Schools, hosted by Conductor in Residence Benjamin Northey, builds on the legacy of Richard Gill's beloved Discovery series. Part performance, part guided tour, it offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the music of the great composers works.
  - Meet the Music is designed to fit every school's learning program. Students experience firsthand what they have explored in the classroom, with the inspiring opportunity to hear the Sydney Symphony perform alongside internationally acclaimed guest artists. Each Meet the Music concert is supported by a free Teacher Resource Kit, with background on key works, score excerpts, lesson plans and recordings, so students arrive prepared and the experience carries back into the classroom.

Beyond the Sydney Symphony for Schools program, Teachers Mutual Bank will also be Presenting Partner of Sydney Symphony in Western Sydney at the Coliseum Theatre, Sydney Symphony in Newcastle and Sydney Symphony Family Events, bringing the Orchestra to communities and families across the state.

This partnership is the third major community partnership announced by Teachers Mutual Bank this year, alongside ReLove and the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation. Together, the three partnerships reflect Teachers Mutual Bank Limited’s commitment to helping communities thrive through access to support, learning and opportunity. Whether helping families rebuild their lives, supporting literacy outcomes, or providing opportunities for young people to experience the power of music, each partnership contributes to creating positive and lasting community impact.