Australian Youth Orchestra

Since 1948

AYO trains, empowers and inspires young musicians as Australia’s leaders, thinkers and artists, through music education and performance experiences of the highest standard.

AYO Young Symphonists

Look at the Stars
Saturday 19 April, 2pm
Snow Concert Hall
Canberra

AYO Young Symphonists

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“One of the best orchestras in the country”

About Us

There is no other national organisation with the passion, power and potential to bring young people to music and music to young people like the Australian Youth Orchestra.

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Latest News

Spotlight Stories—The Latest from AYO

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In Conversation with Sandra Tancibudek: From AYO to the World Stage

23 April, 2025

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In Conversation with Sandra Tancibudek: From AYO to the World Stage

From AYO to the World Stage: Duo Aki to Perform at the Osaka World Expo 2025

1 April, 2025

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From AYO to the World Stage: Duo Aki to Perform at the Osaka World Expo 2025

The Perfect Day in Bowral by Julia Hill

27 March, 2025

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The Perfect Day in Bowral by Julia Hill

Weaving Culture into Sound: The Stories Behind Ikuntji Designs

12 March, 2025

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Weaving Culture into Sound: The Stories Behind Ikuntji Designs

Vale Donald Hazelwood AO OBE

11 March, 2025

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Vale Donald Hazelwood AO OBE

John Wion: From AYO’s Inaugural Program to a Lifetime of Music

27 February, 2025

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John Wion: From AYO’s Inaugural Program to a Lifetime of Music

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A huge congratulations to our brilliant Young Symp

A huge congratulations to our brilliant Young Symphonists on their show-stopping Easter Saturday performance to a full house!

Under the baton of the dynamic Dr Luke Dollman, Australia’s finest high school-aged musicians lit up the stage with Jessica Wells’s Uplift, dazzled with Ann Carr-Boyd’s Look at the Stars, waltzed through Strauss’s Blue Danube, and brought every vivid scene of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition to life.

Thank you to the incredible artists who supported them in the lead-up, to Snow Concert Hall for welcoming us so warmly, and to every audience member who came along and cheered them on ✨🌟

📸 Photography by Lisa Maree Williams

🎶 Keen to be part of AYO in 2026? Applications

🎶 Keen to be part of AYO in 2026?

Applications open soon—register your interest to be the first to know when they launch, plus get access to audition and portfolio tips along the way. Whether your passion lies in performance, composition, arts leadership or music storytelling, AYO is here to help you thrive.

Big things are coming in 2026—and we’d love you to be part of it.
🔗 Head to the link in bio to register.

Our Young Symphonists are in full swing! 🎻✨

Our Young Symphonists are in full swing! 🎻✨

Australia’s brightest young talents have hit the ground running in Canberra—making a mighty sound under the baton of Luke Dollman and learning from some of the country’s leading professional musicians in intensive sectional rehearsals.

They’ve also taken part in inspiring professional development sessions, from performing under pressure with Mark Bain, drawing on performance psychology and music performance anxiety research, to exploring the physicality of playing with Jacqui Somerville. And of course, the AYO team has been keeping energy levels high with games and plenty of fun in between rehearsals.

A big thank you to Canberra Grammar School for the warm welcome—we can’t wait for this Saturday’s SOLD OUT concert! 🎶

Remember singing along to your favourite tunes on

Remember singing along to your favourite tunes on the ABC? Let’s Sing is making a comeback — and we couldn’t be more excited! 🎤

Teachers, mark 28 April in your calendars. Our Music in Me teacher mentoring program, has partnered with ABC Education to deliver a digital reimagining of the beloved Let’s Sing program.

Each episode features a carefully selected song aligned with the national curriculum, paired with a lesson led by music educator Andy Aronowicz. Our brilliant education writers have created rich content for both the ABC website and detailed teacher notes and classroom ideas for the Music in Me platform.

Hosted by Emma Watkins, the series will feature performances from Tim Minchin, Casey Donovan, the Gondwana Indigenous Children’s Choir, and more.

📚🎵 Music, learning, and joy — all in one! #LetsSing #ABCEducation #MusicInMe

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