Sydney’s music scene has been rocked by the news that a leading Australian professional vocal ensemble has folded, in a further indication of the dire financial straits of the arts during the cost-of-living crisis.
The board of The Song Company, a 42-year-old institution, announced the “deeply disappointing” news in a notice to its long-time supporters, saying it had appointed a liquidator after considering its long-term financial sustainability.
“It is with profound sadness that the board of The Song Company shares that, after thorough consideration of our financial position and future sustainability, the board has resolved to appoint a liquidator,” it said in a statement.
“This is an outcome none of us wanted, and we know this news will be felt deeply by the many people who have loved, supported and believed in The Song Company over the years.”
Established in 1984, The Song Company has long struggled to remain viable.
It entered voluntary receivership in 2019, and a source familiar with the matter said it was unsuccessful in its application for a two-year funding from Create NSW in 2025.
Create NSW confirmed it did not have a direct funding relationship with The Song Company and the company did not seek financial assistance. The Song Company’s annual funding of $168,000 for the 2025 season had yet to be acquitted.
Observers in the music sector say The Song Company is the canary in the coal mine, and other ensembles are living hand to mouth.
“The arts faces a perfect storm of rising costs, falling box office due to the cost-of-living crisis,” The Song Company’s former interim executive director Ian Whitney said. “The gap between the two has got bigger, and the funding has not kept up.”
The announcement also comes two weeks before the Australian Design Centre finally closes its doors after 60 years, having not received sufficient federal and state funding to continue operating.
About 25 per cent of The Song Company’s revenue came from government funding. In the 2024 calendar year, it received $190,000 from the NSW government, according to its latest financial report – a significant bump after receiving $114,000 in calendar year 2023.
The company’s artists include soprano Susannah Lawergren, tenor Timothy Reynolds, baritone Hayden Barrington and bass-baritone Andrew O’Connor. Dedicated to fostering the careers of future musicians and artists, the company organises various programs for emerging artists, including paid experience and mentorship.
The Song Company said in its announcement that it had been home to some of the country’s most gifted vocalists and musicians.
“Together with our composers, collaborators, audiences and donors, they have created something genuinely rare: a body of work that has moved, challenged and inspired Australians for decades. That legacy is real, and it endures,” the statement said.
“To every singer who has stood on stage with us. To every composer who trusted us with their music. To every audience member who gave us their attention and their hearts. To every donor and funder who believed this work mattered: Thank you. Deeply, and sincerely.”
Kayla Olaya is a culture reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
