Instrumental Music

The Highland Pipe Band contest is introduced as part of the competitions while the Factory Choral competition attracts entries from Ballarat and Geelong as businesses vie for musical honours. Bernard Heinze wins the under 13 and 15 violin solos and after studying at the Royal College of Music, returns in 1923 as a South Street adjudicator. Knighted in 1949, his career as a conductor, professor of music, music advisor to the ABC, and trustee of the Sydney Opera House saw Heinze rise to become one of the dominant musical figures in Australia.

Instead of disbanding, the Committee agrees it should continue to function, and raise funds for the purchase of a grand piano for Ballarat. Up to this time a grand piano had to be brought from Melbourne when required.

New Schools Instrumental and Electronic Organ sections are introduced to the competitions.

South Street moves to the Civic Hall while restoration work is undertaken on the theatre and two new items are introduced to the competitions – the Geoff Smith Memorial Jazz Ensemble and the Choral, Courier Junior Secondary Choirs.

The Australian Elizabethan Trust donates $13,000 to support the Band Contest and help set up Civic Hall in readiness for the Eisteddfod.

To celebrate our 125th anniversary, Royal South Street introduced Mi Sound as a new competition category.

Mi Sound has been designed for those studying VCE-VET Music Industry Skills programs and provides a genuine industry experience and opportunity to perform in a live venue, with feedback from well-known industry adjudicators.

The inaugral event was sponsored by Ballarat Region Tourism and held between September 5th-7th at the Miner’s Tavern. The intention was for this to become a permanent part of Royal South Street’s annual Eisteddfod program.

New sections were added to the Freemasons Victoria Festival of Schools Music, Bands and Instrumental discipline.

Set to be held between September 7-12 at Caro Convention Centre – new Jazz/Rock combo sections, VCE/VET, and non-competitive critique only sections!! Plus, all other sections from under 12 years to under 19 years!

In December 2024, Lindsay Eaton (Board Chair for RSSS) and Paula Nicholson (Board Chair for BMI) signed an MOU joining the two organisations in a creative partnership.

The purpose of the MOU was written as; ‘a collaboration based on a shared goal, that of nurturing and encouraging the talents of aspiring artists in performance arts, whilst acknowledging the benefits of such partnerships within the common goal of community coherence.’

In April 2025, the Royal South Street Society relocated its offices from Lydiard Street, next to Her Majesty’s Theatre, to a new home at 125 Albert Street.

The new premises, located behind Mortgage Choice, were transformed into functional office space and were previously home to the Anita Coutts Dance School dance studio.

The move allowed us to consolidate our Lyric Storage Room and Archives into a single, central location, creating a more efficient workspace. An added bonus was that the new office is entirely on one level, with no stairs, making the bump-in and bump-out process for events significantly easier for staff and volunteers.

At the launch of the 2025 Season, RSSS unveiled an ambitious goal: to secure a world-class grand piano worthy of the extraordinary talent that graces its stages each year.

What began as a dream quickly became a community movement.

RSSS launched the inspiring Key to Music fundraising campaign — inviting the community to become part of the legacy by sponsoring one of the piano’s 88 keys.

Through the generosity of benefactor Andrew Cochrane — honouring the legacy of his late mother, pianist and teacher Margaret Schofield OAM — and in partnership with Bernie’s Music Land and Schimmel Pianos, the Society announced it would acquire a Schimmel Konzert Grand K195.

In a thrilling surprise at the Season Launch, it was revealed that the chosen instrument would be upgraded to the K195 Konzert Grand — placing Ballarat among the custodians of one of the finest competition grand pianos in Australia.

After more than a decade, the Royal South Street Society Showcase made a welcome return in 2025, celebrating the extraordinary talent, dedication and diversity of performers who take part in Australia’s longest-running performing arts eisteddfod.

The Royal Treasure Trail was established in 2025, with the help of Tourism Midwest Victoria, to encourage our participants and families to stay and explore the treasures of Ballarat while in town for the Eisteddfod.   Just over 30 local businesses signed up to take part!