10 October 2025
Vale bassoonist Brian Pope
The Australian Youth Orchestra honours esteemed alumnus and bassoonist Brian Pope, who has passed away in Western Australia.
Brian was a member of the inaugural Australian Youth Orchestra in 1957. He then went on to become a member of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra before moving to the West Australian Symphony Orchestra where he played for over 20 years. He was Principal Bassoon and an enthusiastic advocate for musicians. He helped to establish the WASO Players’ Association and served as President of the WA Musicians’ Union.
Fellow AYO alumnus and Honorary Life Member Patrick Brislan recounts some of the joyful moments they experienced together in the early AYO National Music Camp days and later playing together with WASO.
“An enduring memory is of Brian’s masterful bassoon playing in the ‘cadenza’ between the 4th and 5th movements of Shostakovich’s 9th Symphony. But it was his occasional response to conductors in rehearsal which was also memorable and often ironic.”
Patrick Brislan
“I also learnt that Brian and I shared a similar sense of humour,” said Patrick, recalling a photo he took of his “diabolical-looking friend” pretending to snap his bassoon in half.
Brian’s wife of 70 years, Dr Joan Pope OAM, recalls some of the important work Brian did.
“Brian was a Trust member of the Musicians Benevolent Fund, and instrumental in working with the WA Public Health Department on a range of initiatives regarding decibel exposure for all musicians. He represented WA on The Future of Australian Orchestras review and report, chaired by Ken Tribe. Brian was also the proud ‘inventor’ of a bassoon spike having eyed off the cellos, with a view to lightening the load on back and shoulders”
Brian was also a philatelic historian, vets hockey player and celebrated 70 years of marriage to his wife Joan in May this year. Brian will be remembered at a memorial service on 17 October at 10am at Bowra and O’Dea Funeral Home in Fremantle, WA. The service will be livestreamed via THIS LINK.
Brian and his wife Dr Joan Pope OAM Photo: Dr Joan Pope