In a special collaboration, AYO musicians had the privilege of joining the Australian World Orchestra on stage at the Sydney Opera House with acclaimed conductor, Sir Simon Rattle. The AWO, which music critic Peter McCallum described as what the ‘Australian Youth Orchestra would sound like a decade or so on’, consists of 95 musicians from orchestras in over 30 countries.
Over 80% of AWO musicians trained with the AYO at the start of their careers. AWO members mentored current AYO participants throughout the week in a series of masterclasses which were open to the public. Distinguished AYO alumni such as Michael Mulcahy, a trombonist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, who led a workshop for AYO players Nicolas Thomson and Minami Takahashi, provided guidance and insight to our players. Our musicians were able to use these workshops to focus on orchestral excerpts, and to learn to work together as a section.
AYO musician Sunkyoung Kim, found the collaboration inspiring. “It’s so easy to become complacent and take classical music for granted when you’re studying music full time – practicing your instrument becomes a routine” she said. “The AYO/AWO collaboration has rekindled my love for music. I had the privilege to witness world-class musicians who are so passionate and in-love of what they do. And when you meet people of such kind, you are so inspired by their contagious passion and love for music.”
In between rehearsals, musicians attended a career development session with a number of AWO players. The session allowed AYO players to hear about the different pathways AWO musicians took to achieve their musical goals.
The combined orchestra, comprised of 50 AYO musicians and 34 AWO players, performed a moving rendition of Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Overture, which showcased the dynamic talent of the orchestra. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the musicians to perform under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle, the Artistic Director of the Berliner Philharmoniker.
AYO musicians were also able to pass on their skills to even younger players from regional NSW. Musicians as young as six were guided by members of the AYO and AWO in a special music education project that aimed to educate and inspire primary-school age musicians. Sam Chesson, mother of 6-year-old violin player Charlotte from Orange, remarked that “the way [the school-age musicians] were treated as professional musicians made a difference.” For AYO players, the experience of guiding young players brought back memories of their first musical milestones. The Bach Double Violin Concerto was performed by three generations of musicians on the Opera House Stage – an unforgettable moment for all involved.
