The ABC Classic 100 in Concert brings audience music picks to the concert hall and people’s homes
Each year, after Australian classical music lovers cast their votes and the ABC Classic 100 countdown is complete, these favorites move from radio to concert halls.
The ABC Classic 100 Concert is an annual event that brings to life the country’s most beloved classical music.
The concert has been presented by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at Hamer Hall since 2023, a few weeks after the popular countdown.
“Seeing the music come to life in the theater with an audience of voting music fans adds a chilling new dimension,” says Megan Burslem, host of ABC Classic Breakfast and co-host of the ABC Classic 100 Concert.
“The concert is about celebrating all aspects of what classical music is and how it makes us feel,” says ABC News’ Jeremy Fernandez, who hosts Burslem.
“I studied classical piano as a kid. I wasn’t very good at it, so the next best thing is to enjoy having someone else do it,” he says.
Jeremy Fernandez and Megan Burslem have been hosting the ABC Classic 100 Concerts since 2024. (ABC Classic: Lucy Zee)
Delivering the music chosen by Australian music lovers is a complex process.
Burslem and others share how ABC Classic 100 in Concert came together, what goes on behind the scenes, and why it holds a special place in their hearts.
We are watching the vote flow
As host of ABC Classic Breakfast, Burslem is deeply involved in the work of ABC Classic 100.
This is the time of year when the station asks viewers to vote for up to 10 pieces of music based on a particular theme.
This year’s top-secret theme will be revealed when voting begins on May 4, and Burslem is eagerly awaiting the launch.
“Observing the entire process of launching ABC Classic 100 on the radio, seeing the votes flow in, and then seeing it come to life in concert is truly magical,” says Burslem.
“Some people know the 10 songs they will vote for, but others find it a very difficult process.“
While Burslem encourages viewers to vote and tests their mood with incoming messages, another person listens closely to what everyone is saying.
Benjamin Northey has been directing the ABC Classic 100 Concerts since its launch in 2023.
“As soon as voting opens, we start tracking numbers and analyzing trends to predict which tracks might make the top 10,” says Northey.
It may seem like an unfair advantage, but he needs help.
“One of the biggest challenges of this program is having to book soloists without knowing exactly what they will be playing, for example,” says Northey.
That’s because Northey was only able to finalize the concert’s music after the votes were announced during the ABC Classic 100 countdown in early June.
preparing for the concert
Asked if he found the ABC Classic 100’s top winner before the rest of Australia, Northey has only this to say:
“I have enough knowledge to prevent disasters.“
“I swore to keep secret any information I had,” he adds.
Burslem doesn’t want to get in trouble either, so she’s keeping her lips sealed about what’s going on at the ABC Classic studios during the countdown.
But Fernandez is not shy about sharing what he hopes to hear at the final concert: “I’m a big fan of the piano, strings and French Horn. I love choral music and the sound of a big orchestra.”
It is impossible to predict what music will be featured in this year’s concert.
However, unlike the financial market, past concerts give us some clues about future performances.
“They always played the number one winner and celebrated it in concert,” Burslem says.
He warns: “I’m not sure whether to play trick three or trick four.”
The concert will feature highlights from the top 100 musical pieces voted by the audience.
Bringing music to life on stage and screen
On the day of the concert, the orchestra performs not only to the audience in the hall, but also to listeners and spectators across the country.
Burslem explains what’s at stake for musicians.
“[In regular concerts]“We rarely see this many soloists with rapid changes on stage, roving cameras, and presenters moving around the stage,” says Burslem.
It describes the many wheels in motion during the ABC Classic 100 Concert.
“Whether it’s a stage manager, a production assistant, or a camera operator, everyone concentrates as if their life depends on it.”
The complex operation means chef Northey manages a lot on stage.
“He keeps a whole orchestra, choir, soloists, TV cameras and hall in his head,” Burslem explains.
“But as soon as he steps on stage, no one will even know.”
Benjamin Northey conducts more than just the orchestra for the ABC Classic 100 Concert. (ABC TV: Laura Manariti)
Northey says having the audience enjoy himself is the most rewarding aspect of the job.
“Knowing that these pieces have been voted on and loved creates a real sense of shared ownership between the audience and the orchestra,” says Northey.
“It’s a pretty noisy audience, in my experience,” Northey adds.
He doesn’t really mind: “You can really feel the level of enthusiasm and commitment in the room.”
It’s a sentiment shared behind the scenes, too.
Fernandez recalls meeting composer Nat Bartsch in 2025 as one of the highlights of the concert.
“I came across his music during a difficult time in my life,” says Fernandez. “His music was the soundtrack to a lot of the things I was going through but also overcoming.”
“I wish we could broadcast the great admiration and support that the artists at this concert have for each other.“
ABC Classic 100 Concert Tickets currently on sale. You can watch the concert on ABC TV and ABC iview and listen to it on ABC Classic on Saturday, June 27 at 19.30.
