Australian Youth Orchestra

What was that first piece you heard that made you love classical music? What does the music mean to you now and how can we make it accessible to more audiences? We asked the next generation of young musicians at AYO Autumn Music Camp about their introduction to classical music and a rundown of their favourites from then to now.

Hear from violinist Robyn Blann, bassoonist Tiger Chou, horn player Simon Jones and percussionist Carissa Soares.

We'd like to acknowledge we’ve recorded this podcast on the traditional lands of the Kulin Nations and pay our respects to Elders both past, present and future.

For our third and final mini-series exploring tricks of the trade and what it takes to be a multi-faceted artist in the 21st century we had a glimpse into the world of orchestral managing.

What kind of personality is best suited to arts administration? How do you react to changing situations? Do you think you could handle the role? Find out in our latest podcast with the orchestral managers.

We'd like to acknowledge we’ve recorded this podcast on the traditional lands of the Kulin Nations and pay our respects to Elders both past, present and future.

On our second part of this mini series on forging a multi-faceted career as an artist, we spoke to two industry specialists about sound production, musical recording and creating the experience of a classical concert through technology.

We'd like to acknowledge we’ve recorded this podcast on the traditional lands of the Kulin Nations and pay our respects to Elders both past, present and future.

Forging a multi-faceted career as an artist in the 21st century requires a broad understanding of the arts sector, from putting on a production to gathering an audience.

We chatted to two experts in the field of communication and music. They broke down how a musician can present themselves on stage, online and tell their story to an audience.

We'd like to acknowledge we’ve recorded this podcast on the traditional lands of the Kulin Nations and pay our respects to Elders both past, present and future.

On the latest episode of the podcast we welcomed AYO violin alumna Frances Evans, who is set to host the inaugural Warren Chamber Music Festival in the Central West of NSW. The festival will feature a line-up packed with AYO alumni and hopes to attract locals and travellers to experience chamber music in a rural setting.

Frances chats to us about her musical career since performing with AYO and how she hopes Australia can expand its cultural experiences far and wide.

The Warren Chamber Music Festival will take place 7-9 May 2021, Warren NSW

For more information visit: https://bit.ly/30dVQtZ

We'd like to acknowledge we’ve recorded this podcast on the traditional lands of the Eora, Ngemba, Wongaibon, Wayilwan, Waiabara Nations and pay our respects to Elders both past, present and future.

In our next episode of the AYO podcast we chatted to oboist Miriam Cooney about a memorable performance from National Music Camp earlier this year — Weber’s ‘Der Freischütz’ Overture. The German opera has a dramatic and dense storyline which the orchestra workshopped throughout the week.

Listen to Miriam on our latest podcast chatting all about her experiences as an AYO musician, and hear the live AYO concert recording of Weber’s ‘Der Freischütz’ Overture.

We'd like to acknowledge we’ve recorded this podcast on the traditional lands of the Eora Nations and pay our respects to Elders both past, present and future.

On the latest episode of the AYO podcast, violinist Adrian Biemmi chats to us about his favourite memory on an AYO program. Last year at National Music Camp 2019, the Weiss Chamber Orchestra performed Anton Arensky’s Variations on a Theme by Tchaikovsky. The piece evoked an immediate emotional response for Adrian, who had played it for the first time many years beforehand when he had just started out playing violin. Discover more about the piece and Adrian’s AYO experience.

We'd like to acknowledge we’ve recorded this podcast on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk and Eora Nations and pay our respects to Elders both past, present and future.

Being part of an orchestra at AYO National Music Camp can be both rewarding and exhausting, playing all kinds of new repertoire in a fast-paced environment. We caught up with two participants from camp, tubist Rachel Kelly and cellist, Francesca Masel, who joined us to share their stories from the brass and string sections.

We'd like to acknowledge we’ve recorded this podcast on the traditional lands of the Kaurna Nations and pay our respects to Elders both past, present and future.

Being part of an orchestra at AYO National Music Camp can be both rewarding and exhausting, playing all kinds of new repertoire in a fast-paced environment. We caught up with two participants from camp, tubist Rachel Kelly and cellist, Francesca Masel, who joined us to share their stories from the brass and string sections.

We'd like to acknowledge we’ve recorded this podcast on the traditional lands of the Kaurna Nations and pay our respects to Elders both past, present and future.

This is an original composition from Sophie Van Dijk, a participant from the composition program at National Music Camp.

The common human experience of hopelessness and despair is reflected in i don’t want it anymore. The work is my contribution to the conversation around mental health and deals with confronting personal battles that we would rather keep hidden. Maintaining a façade is exhausting and isolating. I believe that true human connection occurs when we are vulnerable, and as such I’ve chosen to reveal elements of my experience through this work.

'i don’t want it anymore' explores colour and motion through morphing melodic material and the use of diverse groupings of instrumental timbres. It is characterised by a sense of uncertainty; the persistent stillness threatens to break at any moment. When it does, serenity returns with greater stability, before fading to a conclusive silence.

This piece emerged from darkness; fatigue, anxiety, illness. It is a direct reflection on personal trials and triumphs in recent months. The title i don’t want it anymore expresses a visceral ache for respite. The piece is imbued with a sense of melancholy that resolves to peace, conveying my personal hope for healing.

© Sophie Van Dijk 2020

Sophie Van Dijk is a composer and violinist passionate about writing music to explore elements of faith, society and humanity. She aims to share these things with others, with the ultimate goal of bringing joy and fostering dialogue and community.

Sophie is currently completing her honours year of a Bachelor of Music (Composition) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Notable commissions include: the Brett Whiteley Gallery, Light Qualities as part of VIVID 2019, Radford College Foundation Day Concert, and Trinity Grammar School where she was the 2019 Composer-in-Residence.

Sophie was selected to participate in the 2017 Coro Innominata Women Composers Development Program, the composers stream of both the 2019 Gondwana National Choral School and 2020 AYO National Music Camp.