A strategic leader with an ear tuned to listening and collaboration; our new Chair Edgar Myer is perfectly poised to help steer the MSO into the future.
Two big life moments happened in Edgar Myer’s life at the end of 2024. One was the birth of his second son with his wife Suzie, born just before Christmas; two, accepting the role of MSO Chair.
“Our youngest is six and a half weeks old now and we’re all still adapting,” says Edgar. “Our eldest is almost three, and we also have a miniature schnauzer, so things are busy in our household.”
Regarding the MSO role, it was a decision he considered carefully.
“It’s definitely a big commitment. But in the end, the opportunity to take on this role and be a part of such a beloved and important cultural institution, with a dedicated management team, an experienced Board, and a group of brilliant musicians, was simply too good to refuse. I'm really honoured by the opportunity.”
Edgar notes attending a Sidney Myer Music Bowl Free Concert just last week, where this time last year he shared the stage with his great aunt and MSO life member, Lady Marigold Southey AC.
“Looking around and seeing the MSO being embraced by almost 10,000 Melburnians, and knowing that I get to play a small but important role in bringing this experience to life for so many, is a great reminder of why I’m involved.”
While a qualified lawyer with international experience, he finds corporate governance an “infinitely interesting, challenging space.”
“My career has been quite broad and my current role, which involves managing the investment portfolio for our family office, is varied. So I’m exposed to different types of thinking, and the really long term strategic thinking and planning for the next generation will be very helpful in this role.”
He acknowledges he is perhaps a little more on the younger side than people may expect to see of a typical orchestra Chair.
“I am obviously a little younger than my Board counterparts, but I feel well supported by them, and by other key figures in my life. It’s a mix of skills and life experience that makes me well placed to help steward the MSO forward.”
Edgar’s connection to the MSO runs deep, both personally and through his family's incredible legacy. While Edgar acknowledges his heritage with pride, his focus is firmly on the future. “Every generation of my family has had some involvement with the MSO,” he reflects. “But I'm also focused on the here and now, and what lies ahead.”
That future vision is deeply embedded in service to the community. “It's about asking what we can do for the city of Melbourne, for the people of Melbourne. How can we serve you?” He shares the strategic imperative is to reach not only those in inner-city postcodes, but further into the suburbs and regions, ensuring orchestral music is accessible to all Victorians.
Edgar is particularly passionate about the MSO's educational initiatives, having experienced firsthand the impact of orchestral music on young people. “These programs are gold,” he emphasises, speaking of initiatives like Jams for Juniors, which he’s attended with his elder son, and MSO for Schools.
Edgar sees the concert experience as increasingly valuable in our digital age. “You have to switch off, find your seat, the lights go down and you're transported into a different world,“ he describes. “It's almost like a meditative experience, situated in a very different context from our usual online world.“
Looking ahead, Edgar outlines clear markers for success — ensuring the orchestra's financial and cultural health, growing and developing audiences for the future, and maintaining artistic excellence while remaining relevant to contemporary audiences.
“We've inherited an organisation that's almost 120 years old,“ he observes. “A lot of thought and energy has already gone into making it what it is. Our role is to steward that onwards while ensuring we're making the investments now that will make us even stronger and sustainable in the future.“
The musicians remain at the heart of the MSO, and Edgar is clear that there must be an ongoing and respectful dialogue between the Board, management and musicians for the orchestra to thrive.
“We have Lorraine (Hook, First Violin) on our Board and she plays a really important role in representing the musicians’ views at Board level. We also have our Players Committee, and I would like to see a formal interface between the Committee and Board so there’s another formal channel of communication.”
Edgar says going on tour with the MSO to Indonesia last year was a highlight in establishing a connection with the musicians.
“That was transformative for me, as I was able to inhabit the musicians' world; just hanging out more casually and getting to know the orchestra a bit better. We’re not just directors, we're also cheerleaders for the orchestra, so having those ties is important.”
To the MSO's valued patrons, Edgar has a clear message.
“You are our family. Keep coming, keep subscribing. We want to hear from you. I want to meet you and hear firsthand about your experiences. Your patronage is key to keeping the MSO thriving.”