Sydney University Musical Society

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The Sydney University Musical Society (SUMS) is the undergraduate choral society of the University of Sydney. Founded in 1878, it is one of the oldest secular choirs in Australia, and the oldest Australian University Choir. It claims to have given the Australian premiere of such pieces as Handel's Dixit Dominus and Bach's Mass in B minor. The Musical Society has performed with orchestras such as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Sydney Youth Orchestra and the SBS Youth Orchestra. SUMS' conductor of 23 years, Ben Macpherson, retired from his post of musical director in mid-2006, with his final performance with the society being Mendelssohn's 'Elijah', performed in the Great Hall of the University of Sydney.