A Season of Celebration: Honouring Diana Ramsay AO

In 2026, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra celebrates 90 years of music-making, and we are thrilled to partner with the James & Diana Ramsay Foundation to mark this milestone in a way that also honours the centenary of Diana Ramsay AO. 

Diana and her husband James were renowned for celebrating anniversaries, often marking such occasions with extraordinary acts of generosity to the causes they cherished. In the same spirit, the Foundation is supporting a series of concerts and programs across our 2026 Season that reflect Diana’s life, values, and passions. 

With the Foundation’s support, our Symphony Series commences with pianist Konstantin Shamray performing Rachmaninov’s virtuosic Piano Concerto No. 2 – a glorious season opener and a fitting start to a year of celebration. Another standout is The Ring: An Orchestral Adventure – Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle distilled into one breathtaking evening. It is especially meaningful to connect this work with Diana’s legacy, as she was instrumental in bringing Australia’s first full production of The Ring to Adelaide in 1998. 

The Foundation’s generosity also extends to our Cathedral Series in St Peter’s Cathedral – the place of Diana’s memorial service – making these performances particularly moving tributes. And thanks to the Foundation, we welcome one of the world’s greatest voices, Welsh baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, for a special concert celebrating 90 years of the ASO. 

These concerts embody Diana Ramsay’s enduring love of beauty, excellence, and artistic achievement, bringing audiences together to celebrate her extraordinary legacy and the Orchestra’s remarkable journey.