Fleur Griffiths, Head of Philanthropy
What brings you to the Sydney Symphony?
I’ve spent several decades working with performing arts companies, but during COVID I found myself away from the industry. It made me realise how much I missed the energy, anticipation and occasional butterflies that come with preparing for concerts and events. So, when the opportunity came up at the SSO, I jumped at the chance to apply. Two years on, I feel very lucky to be working alongside such a fabulous team of musicians and administrators, helping share beautiful music with so many enthusiastic and interesting people.
Tell us about your most impactful musical moment?
I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy many glorious concert experiences, however I think the moments that stand out have mostly occurred in the masterclasses led by some of the amazing soloists who visit us. Watching Karen Gomyo or Daniel Müller-Schott focus on a young musician with such kindness and camaraderie is very inspiring and teaches you so much about the music – from the inside out!
You are an avid traveler! What is your favourite ‘unlikely’ destination?
I do love travelling overseas, but somewhere I would return to without hesitation is a place called Bendalong on the south coast of NSW. We’ve been visiting that area for decades – with its long white sand beaches, bushland, birds and kangaroos, it’s like going back in time, very unspoilt and beautiful. But it’s very meaningful for me because it is completely associated in my mind with my kids growing up, as we first took my eldest son as a one-month old baby and had to bathe him in an esky as the rental house only had a shower. He’s now 23 years old.
What is a topic you could talk about for hours?
I love history, of any time period, and love to hear about events and people from the past and think about how the times they lived in shaped their lives and actions.