Music Illawarra was established in 1973 (then known as Illawarra Music Club). Its inaugural Musicale (featuring the Vidiam Trio) was held on 31st March 1973 at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music, then located at Wesley Methodist Hall, Crown Street, Wollongong. There have been many who have helped and contributed to the success of Music Illawarra over the past thirty-five years, but we cannot fail to mention the contributions of past presidents Mr. Abe Segal OAM, Mrs. Valeric Smith, Dr Clare Cunningham OAM, Mrs. Yvonne McColl, Mrs. M Hayes and of our illustrious past secretary for most of those 35 years, Lorna Koetz. Special concerts dedicated to the memory of two highly esteemed former MI members, Michael Kent and Alice Fitzsummons (our late musical director and accompanist) were both well attended and moving events.

Music Illawarra has always aimed to provide musicians from the Illawarra region with the chance to perform before the public at an early stage of their musical development. Musicians from the Wollongong area who have received performance opportunities at MI concerts have included William Hennessy, Richard Tognetti, Lorraine Smith, Karen Segal, David Vance, Pamela Mildenhall, Anthony Warlow, Mary-Jane Corderoy dec, Marianne Shepherd, Vera Troitsky, Andrew Snedden, Merion Powell, Denise Patton, Rosalie Segal, Colleen Baxter, Petra Davis, Alexandra Stender, Marisa Mariani, Emma Hayes, Michelle Rose and many others.

Sponsorship-assisted activities, fostering the development of fine music in the region, have included the Yamaha National Piano and Illawarra Mercury National Operatic Aria Competitions; and the Young Musicians' Competition, supported by Top End Hi-Fi (Mr Brian Banting), the Wollongong Branch of the Music Teachers' Association and other organisations such as BHP, as well as individual benefactors. Music Illawarra has also donated prizes for the City of Wollongong Eisteddfod and Parsons' Music Box Junior Musicians Competition in past years. An innovative step in 1997 was the holding of a Piano Master Class for students by Sydney pianist Gerard Willems. The Operatic Aria Competition in 1998 was won by Adele Johnston of West Ryde, with runner-up Ayse Goknur Ray going on to win a prestigious national competition and furthering her studies overseas. In 2002 Ml provided the main prize of $1,000 for the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music Piano Concerto Competition.

In November 2008, Music Illawarra celebrated 35 years of bringing music to the Illawarra. The City of Wollongong Brass Band and the Out of the Blue Singers brought a beautifully varied program which was very much appreciated by the audience. Special guests Mark Matthews (ABC Illawarra) and Annelise Bussoletti (winner of the 2008 Junior Performers' Competition) also impressed the audience with their performances.

Let's make another 35 years a reality now!