Embedded in the National Music Camp are programs aimed at developing skills for diverse careers in the arts, such as composition, orchestral management, sound production & media and communication. These programs are led by high-level industry professionals, and they equip participants with technical knowledge and expert skills.
When is it?
For two weeks in mid-January each year. These non-orchestral programs run concurrent with the orchestral programs at National Music Camp.
Where is it?
National Music Camp is held at Adelaide University with all non-orchestral participants involved in the concerts held in the Elder Hall. The concert series is referred to as the AYO Summer Music Festival.
The Composition Program within the Australian Youth Orchestra’s National Music Camp was introduced in 2016. This program was established to provide young composers with the opportunity to develop their craft alongside performers, offering workshops, mentorship, and the chance to have their works performed by the orchestras in the camp.
Since its inception, the Composition Program has become an integral part of the NMC experience, fostering new Australian music and encouraging collaboration between composers and musicians. Participants work closely with leading Australian composers, receiving guidance throughout the editing, feedback, and rehearsal process to familiarise them with the requirements and conventions in these critical stages of bringing new work to life.
Maddie Hammond is a Perth-based composer who is completing her Master of Teaching (Secondary Education) in Music and English. Madeleine has an Honours degree in Composition at the Conservatorium of Music, from the University of Western Australia and is currently completing her Master of Teaching (Secondary Education) majoring in Music and minoring in English. Maddie has attended the Australian Youth Orchestra’s National Music Camp for Composition, Words About Music (Media & Communications), and Orchestral Management from 2023-2025. Maddie was an inaugural member of the AYOYC. Maddie has composed for several ensembles such as AYO’s National Musical Camp, the Australian Women’s Wind Band Prize, UWA Conservatorium of Music’s Wind Orchestra, and Voyces’ Vanguard Consort. Maddie is also a keen trumpeter playing regularly with WA Brass, the West Australian Wind Symphony, and West Coast Philharmonic Orchestra.
Abigail Lui is a Brisbane-based composer and violinist inspired by the stories that help us make sense of the world. She has recently taken part in composition programs with the Australian Youth Orchestra in 2024 and 2025. As Camerata’s 2025 Emerging Composer-in-Residence, a recipient of ABC Classic’s Composer Commissioning Fund (2024) and winner of Adelaide Chamber Music School’s String Quartet Composition Prize (2022), she is fast gaining a reputation for bold and intuitive writing that’s equally lucid in concert hall and community.
2024 has seen her string quartet Colour of Time recorded by Amiti Quartet for ABC Classic, piano trio Wayfarers recorded by Cerulean Collective for release through Corella Recordings, and on the choral-music side, a new piece for Voices of Birralee inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s artistic practice, and lyric-writing commission composed in collaboration with Elena Kats-Chernin. She has taken part in composition programs with Queensland Youth Orchestra (2023), Topology (2022-23), and Singapore-based choir Vox Camerata (2022-23). Her music has also been performed by Brisbane Chamber Choir, Lumens, Birralee Singers, and Vocal Australia, and she has written and performed music for films (Nosferatu and Cabinet of Dr. Caligari).
Abigail is studying composition with Robert Davidson and violin withCourtenay Cleary, and previously Adam Chalabi, through a Bachelor of Music (Honours) and Science at the University of Queensland. Her Honours research explores how violin performance knowledge can enrich compositional practice through personal study and collaboration.
The AYO’s Sound Production program at National Music Camp is offered to up to 3 participants to gain an in-depth understanding of sound engineering when it comes to large ensembles like a symphony orchestra. This program equips participants with the experience essential for sound production and mixing, as well as understanding essential interview and editing techniques fundamental to developing strong broadcasting skills.
Avelyn Reynolds is a sound engineer and violinist based in Melbourne, currently in her second year of a Bachelor of Music (Violin) degree at the University of Melbourne. After a successful AYO NMC in the Sound Production course, Avelyn took a semester off and spent the second half of 2025 completing the Dolby Atmos for Music course at the Abbey Road Institute in London. During her stay in the UK, she also attended Mix with the Masters, Catherine Marks’ intensive masterclass week, which brought an insight into recording, producing, and mixing in multiple styles. Hoping to bring immersive sound to a more prominent position in the classical world, her aim is to continue to work with orchestras and smaller classical ensembles to bring historically accurate sound to classical recordings, while still continuing to perform on stage.
Jude is a 22-year-old double bassist from Melbourne. He is currently completing an Honours degree in double bass performance at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music under former MSO principal bass Steve Reeves.
Jude began playing double bass at age 16 after being offered a scholarship with MYO who provided instruments, lessons and ensemble participation. It was through this and other support that enabled him to successfully audition for the MCM commencing in 2020.
In 2023 Jude completed a year abroad at the University of Birmingham studying with CBSO associate principal bass Julian Atkinson and regularly playing for the Birmingham Conservatoire Orchestra and the CBSO Youth Orchestra. During that year Jude took lessons and masterclasses with players such as Tom Martin, Bozo Paradzik, Leon Bosch, and Lorraine Campet. He was also a guest artist for various ensembles in the UK and participated in the 2023 Dutch Double Bass Festival in Rotterdam (including premiering a new work in an ensemble of 60 double basses).
In 2024, after his experience in the UK, Jude was offered places and scholarships at Trinity College under Leon Bosch and RNCM under Jiri Hudec.
Jude’s participation in the AYO includes attendance at three NMC’s, once as a sound production participant and twice on bass.
The AYO’s Orchestral Management program offers real-life experience in the logistic and organisational expertise needed in managing the seamless performances of a professional orchestra. Participants learn about the industry standards and processes for managing an orchestra, from bookings and liaising with stakeholders to writing stage plans and managing smooth rehearsals.
Hear from Louisa Stanway, Orchestral Management Mentor 2025
Meet some of the Orchestral Management Program Alumni
Elissa began her life in the arts at the age of 5, training in dance, drama and singing. She has performed around Australia, as well as internationally at Disneyland Anaheim and Universal Studios America, Hong Kong and throughout China.
Elissa went on to study Performing Arts Management at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and graduated with a number of awards and scholarships including the Commonwealth Academic Excellence Scholarship and the Hawaiian Award for most outstanding Arts Management graduate. Elissa has since worked at Queensland Theatre Company in marketing and production capacities before transitioning to the position of Travel Coordinator with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. During her time with ACO, Elissa toured extensively all major capital cities as well as many regional areas. In 2014, Elissa moved to the United States and took up the position of Production Manager at the Hartford Symphony Orchestra in Connecticut, before returning to Sydney in 2015 as the Production Coordinator for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Elissa now works as Production Manager with the SSO. Her responsibilities include managing Production staff as well as the planning and day-to-day running of rehearsals and concerts. She has toured with the orchestra on many occasions, including their 2018 International tour to Europe. Elissa returns to tutor the NMC Orchestral Management course for the third time, tutoring twice before in 2016 and 2021.
Maddie Hammond is a Perth-based composer who is completing her Master of Teaching (Secondary Education) in Music and English. Madeleine has an Honours degree in Composition at the Conservatorium of Music, from the University of Western Australia and is currently completing her Master of Teaching (Secondary Education) majoring in Music and minoring in English. Maddie has attended the Australian Youth Orchestra’s National Music Camp for Composition, Words About Music (Media & Communications), and Orchestral Management from 2023-2025. Maddie was an inaugural member of the AYOYC. Maddie has composed for several ensembles such as AYO’s National Musical Camp, the Australian Women’s Wind Band Prize, UWA Conservatorium of Music’s Wind Orchestra, and Voyces’ Vanguard Consort. Maddie is also a keen trumpeter playing regularly with WA Brass, the West Australian Wind Symphony, and West Coast Philharmonic Orchestra.
After taking part in the Orchestral Management program at National Music Camp in 2015, Vennisa Santoro began a career in arts administration and now is the Head of Education & Ensemble Tours at Hayllar Music Tours.
Alumni Interview
Being a part of the Australian Youth Orchestra’s Orchestral Management program has helped to create a launchpad for my career and really understand what it takes to be a part of the arts industry.
It has actually taken me a while to really find what it is that I wanted to do. After finishing the HSC I started a medical science degree. Fast-forward six years and four degree transfers, I was in my last year of my music degree and I still had no idea what I wanted to pursue once I finished. I had been involved in a whole range of activities throughout my time at university; I was the president of our orchestra and wind symphony, coordinated a volunteer program and a few events for our main student organization and was a peer mentor in our faculty. Outside of university, I got to co-produce a Vivid Live Ideas event and was an intern for the Sydney Symphony. Although I loved performing (and still do!), working in music events was always something that I kept coming back to.
After having a chat with one of my lecturers, she mentioned the AYO program. I actually had no idea the AYO had anything like this! After doing some research about the program, I decided to apply. The program looked really intense but seeing as I was still unsure what to pursue career-wise, it seemed like the most logical step for me.
I won’t lie, it wasn’t easy but it was well worth it! Under the wonderful tutelage of the amazing Erin McNamara, our job was to run rehearsals, tutorials and to act as orchestra mangers for the two symphony orchestras, the chamber orchestra, and the smaller chamber ensembles. There are also opportunities to work with a whole range of musicians, conductors, tutors and production staff.
After expressing my interest in working in events while being immersed with music operations, I was very lucky to have received the Regina Ridge Musica Viva Fellowship, which was an opportunity to join the operations team for the 2015 Musica Viva Festival.
During the Musica Viva Regina Ridge Fellowship, I acted as the Musica Viva Festival Operations Coordinator. I had the opportunity to assist with pre-festival preparations, operations and artist liaison. There was a lot to do in the six weeks, but although it was hard work, I was supported by hardworking and passionate staff. The skills that I developed through the experience are invaluable!
It was a little sad wrapping up the festival after so much hard work and meeting the wonderful and passionate team at Musica Viva. About a fortnight after the festival has ended, I was very lucky to have been offered a full time position as the NSW Education Coordinator and absolutely I love it! I’m immersed in scheduling and operations, regional touring, and organising professional development teacher events. I work with wonderful musicians who bring live music to so many schools. It feels good know that this is definitely the industry I want to be in. It would be an absolute dream to work in concert operations and touring or festival work!
There really is nothing like the AYO Orchestral Management program and I’m so glad I was able to do it! You will meet a whole range of passionate people while developing a whole range of skills – you’ll really understand what it takes to be a part of the industry. It really has opened up so many doors and helped me build a very strong foundation in these initial steps of my career in the arts. Since doing the program, I know that working in the arts is where I want to be and I have no idea where I would be today if it wasn’t for this wonderful program!
AYO National Music Camp; Arts Administration Program: 2010
Orchestral Management alumnus and flautist Ashleigh Robertson is a co-founder of the West Melbourne Schools Orchestra, which provides young musicians in West Melbourne a place to play good music and socialise with other like-minded students outside of the school environment. Ashleigh has performed as a soloist with various orchestras including the Essendon Symphony Orchestra and has toured with the Australian Youth Band and Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra – performing in Italy, China, Malaysia, USA and Canada, with venues including Carnegie Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA.
Aside from performing, Ashleigh has a passion for arts administration. She has worked as an ensemble manager for Melbourne Youth Music, personnel manager for Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra and been on the Australian Youth Band’s committee. Ashleigh is also a volunteer at 3MBS, taking on roles as a presenter, in the music library, backstage, and as producer for The Talent.
Tell us about your work with the West Melbourne Schools Orchestra and 3MBS.
Growing up in Tullamarine, there wasn’t any classical music in the Western suburbs; to train and perform I had to travel all the time. My friend Jenny Going received a grant from the Rosemary and John Hopkins Award for Conductors to start an orchestra in the Western Suburbs. We used the grant to start the West Melbourne Schools Orchestra from scratch. It started in April 2016 and we now have 25 young people from 14 different schools. We rehearse in Footscray, working with young people who don’t have a big music program at their school. Our 5-year plan is to start a string group and a jazz band.
I’m also involved as a 3MBS presenter and producer. One of the highlights includes The Talent, where university students perform live on radio and industry professionals give them feedback. The musicians get feedback on how to get their names out there, media training, interview skills, how to promote themselves, etc. I also enjoy working at outside broadcasts, including at the ANAM Chamber Music Finals and at Government House’s Open Day. The buzz of a live broadcast is incredible.
What stands out as your best moment during your AYO program?
During the AYO National Music Camp Arts Administration program, the final concert there had a really complicated stage move. It was my first time doing an orchestral management role and it was a big deal because ABC Classic FM was recording the concert live. We had to get all the students on stage and off and watching them was fantastic – it was such a relief seeing everything click into place!
You’re also an AYO supporter; what motivated you to donate to the AYO?
I know how expensive it can be to run AYO programs. With the West Melbourne Schools Orchestra we’re in desperate need of sponsorship so I understand that even a small amount is extremely useful.
Every year, a group of aspiring music journalists are selected to join AYO National Music Camp for two weeks of immersive writing, exciting concerts and in-depth exploration of the world of music journalism as part of the Media and Communicationprogram (formerly Words About Music). Learning the ropes of publishing and broadcasting can set you on many different paths, and our previous students have gone on to do some incredibly diverse and interesting things
Hear from Ed Le Brocq, Media and Communication Mentor 2025
“Some of my best musical memories have been with the Australian Youth Orchestra. I took part in the Words About Music program, and it’s where I met a bunch of like-minded musicians who have gone on to become impressive leaders in their fields (and great friends, too). Coming from lutruwita/Tasmania — an island where everyone knows everyone — I found it eye-opening to be part of such an epic community of young musicians launching their Australian arts industry careers, all at the same time and with equal passion.”
Stephanie Eslake
Meet some of the Media and Communication Program Alumni
Andrew Aronowicz is a composer and educator with a passion for communicating about classical music to audiences of all ages.
A former program producer with ABC Classic, Andrew worked on some of the network’s major campaigns and programs, including various Classic 100 countdowns, Beethoven 250, and Classic Instruments. He has extensive experience producing various forms of classical music radio, including short and long-form features, interviews, podcasts, and promos, and he has coached and mentored several emerging presenters in radio craft.
As a speaker, Andrew has presented talks and conversations for the Melbourne and Sydney Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Australian Chamber Orchestra. He has also contributed to various online publications, including Musica Viva online, Limelight Magazine, Context Journal, and the Australian Music Centre’s Resonate blog. He has also written marketing copy for major arts organisations including the Australian National Academy of Music and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
A passionate educator and teacher, Andrew has also appeared as a teacher-presenter in the ABC’s recent digital revival of ‘Let’s Sing’, available to watch on ABC iView. He is excited to be composing a series of new orchestral and chamber works as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Cybec Young Composer in Residence for 2026.
Megan Burslem is a 2014 Words About Music (now Media and Communication) alumni. During her program, she was mentored by Alastair McKean who is the Head Librarian at the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Megan has been a significant advocate for AYO since finishing her program and continues to uplift its’ mission for the next generation of classical musicians in Australia.
Dr Megan Burslem is a violist, educator and researcher who is leading the charge in fresh conversation about music in the contemporary landscape. A self-proclaimed sucker for learning, Megan holds a Bachelor of Music (hons.), Bachelor of Arts, Master of Music (Performance), Master of Teaching (Secondary) and a Ph.D in musicology and ethnomusicology. Megan is a trained teacher of music and humanities and lecturer in musicology, who is passionate about music education, especially within rural communities (herself a proud kid from Lakes Entrance).
Stephanie Eslake, a 2014 Words About Music Alumna (now Media and Communication) noticed a gap in promotional opportunities for young classical musicians and came up with a pretty impressive response – she founded a new online publication to showcase their talents. Founded in 2014, CutCommon grew from the sense of community and friendship Stephanie experienced with fellow Words About Music participants, who support and contribute to the magazine. ‘I wanted to continue this long-term and create a place where all young musicians could go for inspiration and support.’ She won the City of Hobart Australia Day 2017 Young Citizen of the Year Award for her “community contribution by creating an online promotional and educational network for young Australian classical musicians”. She is also the inaugural 2017 Kill Your Darlings New Critic Award winner, won the 2018 Tasmanian Young Achiever Awards Arts and Fashion prize (semi-finalist in 2016 and finalist in 2017), was shortlisted for the 2017 Kat Muscat Fellowship, and has been commissioned to write academic course content for writing, design, and entrepreneur units at Foundry.
Alumni Interview
Did you always dream of being a writer?
I’d originally wanted to be an academic – not a journalist. I always enjoyed writing, but throughout my media major I’d associated a career in journalism with what I was learning about hard news coverage of political and criminal issues. I felt a complete disconnect with my passion for classical music. It’s an extremely niche area to report on as a journalist. In my final year, I decided to research ways that I could try to make a career out of writing about the things I loved. The most glaringly obvious step for me was to apply for the Words About Music program. So that’s what I did, and have been lucky enough to work as a freelance journalist reporting on music and fine art ever since.
What gave you the idea of starting CutCommon?
I wanted to start my own publication, and I realised there was a void for young classical music lovers that needed to be filled. There was nowhere that emerging Australian musicians could really read stories about and for them; stories that support what they do, and stories that are directly relevant to their careers and futures. I had such a fantastic experience with my fellow WAM participants at National Music Camp – I didn’t want the journey to end and I wanted to learn more about the amazing talent within the Australian arts community. CutCommon has been a way for me to pursue these dreams while continuing to create something new with people I cherish and admire.
Founding an online magazine is a huge job, what were your first steps?
The first step was to decide whether or not I wanted to build it and if so, what I was willing to put in. I knew it wouldn’t be easy – but I was hooked on this culture of talent and exciting music and projects. There was no way that I could walk away from the dream. I approached my fellow WAM participants asking if they’d like to write for a magazine of this nature. They did – and one of those people, Lucy Rash, is still with CutCommon as Deputy Editor today. Over the years, fellow WAM alumni have also come on board – notably, one of our leading writers Laura Biemmi who took part in the camp just this year. These are friendships that we make for life. Although it’s been a huge undertaking, I have never felt more connected to the industry and the incredible things that young people are doing in this country.
What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
It’s like music – you have to practice. The more you practice, the better you get, and the more writing projects you can start to take on. It will get to a point when you grow familiar with your personal voice and you begin to write with confidence. If you are passionate about your subject area, then you’re bound to do it justice by nature. So get out there and give it a try! It is a powerful form of communication – and most certainly a fun one when you get to write about what you love!
Recipient of the prestigious New Colombo Plan Scholarship and ThinkSwiss Scholarship, violinist Julia Hill has established herself internationally as a multi-faceted musician. She graduated from Griffith University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) and was awarded the 2020 Queensland Conservatorium Medal, given to one student each year for outstanding involvement during tertiary studies.
With a strong passion for interdisciplinary performance, Julia has collaborated with composers, artists and directors to create unique artistic experiences. Whilst living in Japan under the support of the New Colombo Plan Scholarship, she collaborated with Japanese visual artist Yuki Horie, presenting a performance of improvised art and music designed to promote the audience’s wellbeing through mindfulness. Additionally, the ThinkSwiss Scholarship took her to Geneva where her collaboration with five emerging composers resulted in a multi-disciplinary performance featuring new music accompanying a film about the effects of climate change. Most recently, as a featured artist at Brisbane Music Festival, Julia combined theatre, composition and solo violin music to create a solo show, Renaissance, based on the theme of recovery from mental health difficulties.
Julia holds casual violin positions with the Adelaide, Melbourne and Queensland Symphony Orchestras and performs regularly with Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra. She is looking forward to touring with the AYO to Europe for the first time!
Photographer: Jack Mounsey
The Tutti First Violin Chair is generously supported by Jessica Block.
Julia Hill was the 2022 Recipient of the Richard Pollett Memorial Award.
Sophia Mackson is a Queensland-based violist, composer, advocate and educator. She completed her Honours year of her Bachelor of Music in 2023 at the University of Queensland, under the tutelage of the Professor Patricia Pollett.
As a violist, Sophia actively plays and composes for the Sketch Ensemble based at UQ. She is involved with UQ’s Pulse Chamber Orchestra and the University of Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Sophia has also been a part of Australian Youth Orchestra’s National Music Camp, Opera Queensland’s Festival of Outback Opera, Nonsemble, and other ensembles. Through her composing, Sophia has received mentorship through Ensemble Offspring’s Hatched Home Academy in 2020, and taken part of the Women Composers Development Programme with Coro Innominata. She has also worked with ensembles such as Melbourne based ensemble Ellipses Trio, and violist Helena Burns.
Sophia has been interviewed by ABC Classic, ABC New England Northwest, and ABC Brisbane for her advocacy in classical music, particularly around being a musician and having ADHD. Her podcast “On-the-spot” features people who work in the arts that experience neurodiversity and have disabilities. Sophia hopes to use her experiences to inspire change through her writing and creative works, as well as to communicate music to audiences around the country. Sophia is one of the inaugural AYO Media and Communications (MAC) fellows.
The Australian Youth Orchestra composition, arts administration and production programs have been highly successful and provided an alternative professional development opportunity to complement orchestral training. For composition participants, the unique opportunity to workshop and have their work performed by the tutors at National Music Camp is invaluable. Across the years, composition participants have been mentored by Lachlan Skipworth, Anne Cawrse and Jessica Wells among others and have gone on to enjoy successful careers. Alumna Madeleine Hammond received a premiere of her new work with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 2025.
The alumni of the Media and Communication program that have gone on to to contribute to public discourse. Alumni include ABC Classic’s Megan Burslem, Stephanie Eslake (founder and editor in chief CutCommon), Angus McPherson (deputy editor Limelight Magazine), Delia Bartle (ABC Jazz).
Alumni of the Orchestral Management program include Elissa Seed, who currently works as Production Manager at the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Naomi Holman who is the Musician Coordinator at the Australia National Academy of Music.
Many alumni of the Sound Production program at AYO’s National Music Camp have gone on to have plentiful and diverse careers in sound production. Notable alumni include Marcelo Hidalgo who is a freelance audio engineer aiding thousands of ensembles in high-quality projects in the industry.
