About us and our music
Roseville Music Club, a not-for-profit organisation affiliated with The Federated Music Clubs of Australia NSW Council, Inc., was established in 1937 (the third oldest club in the FMCA) to offer fine music to members and visitors in Roseville and surrounding communities.
We invite you to join our forthcoming season. We are presenting five concerts which encompass a range of musicians, instruments, voices and musical styles.
Meet the Roseville Music Club Committee
President
Janet Webb
Vice President
Bruce McAdam
Director of Music
Louise Johnson
Secretary
Lyn Barry
Treasurer
Barbara Mulcahy
(0438 112 171)
Committee Members
Louise Evans
(0408 209 983) Andrew Mackenzie (0416 112 032)
For more information phone our Secretary, Lyn Barry (0438 112 171)
History of RMC - Bruce McAdam
In the early years of the 20th century, good transport and space attracted professional and business residents to Roseville and the North Shore. Beautiful federation houses were built and suburban infrastructure slowly developed with a relaxed lifestyle. Local residents, Wilfred and Thelma Arlom, founded the Roseville Music Club in 1937 to “provide good music and social intercourse for the enlightenment and entertainment of its members and their friends, and for the advancement of music in the community”.
Musicians were selected by the Music Director, Mrs Arlom, who set a high standard and a variety that attracted a membership of around 200 during the 48 years she held office. New young artists, Conservatorium students and recent graduates, as well as established professional musicians, were engaged. Subsequent Music Directors, Ms Beryl Potter, Sue Lamrock and June Howarth over the intervening years have followed this model. Mrs Arlom retired in 1986, having overseen some 350 concerts in her 54 years at the helm of the Club. Since then, there have been a number of challenges for the Club, including finding new venues and executive members as well as financial insecurity due to dwindling subscribers as a result of the impact of demographic factors.
In early 2018, Janet Webb, former Principal Flute of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (1985 - 2017) and Louise Johnson, former Principal Harp of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (1985 - 2019), became joint Directors of Music. Membership during that year doubled and attracted many more visitors, ensuring the financial security of the Club. In February 2019, Bruce McAdam stepped down as President after 25 years in this role and was elected Vice President, and Janet Webb as President. Louise Johnson stepped into the role of Director of Music.
Over the years, many well-known musicians performed for Roseville Music Club early in their careers, including Joan Sutherland in 1948, Stuart Skelton, Wagnerian tenor and 2014 “Male Singer of the Year”, Australian Opera Tenor Andrew Brunsdon, Russian Pianists Alexei Yolodin and Rem Urasin, Australian Pianist Simon Tedeschi, and Singaporean Pianist John Chen.
Roseville Music Club will always be grateful to Thelma and Wilfred Arlom for their passion and enthusiasm to provide, over a long period, quality musicianship to the community. The Club also acknowledges those over the years who have stepped into executive roles and worn the mantle of community leadership created by the Arloms.