15 October 2025
AYO joins Moorambilla at their 20th anniversary celebration
In celebration of 20 years as a thriving regional arts organisation, Moorambilla Voices presented their Gala concert, Riversong: Skysong at the Dubbo Regional Theatre on Saturday 27 September and invited AYO participants to take part.
Daniel Shao (violin), Natalie Kendy (violin), Mia Baivucago (viola) and Noah Lawrence (cello) joined AYO alumni Ronan Apcar (piano), Kirsty McCahon (double bass) and Nicole Forsyth (viola) in the orchestra pit alongside members of the Song Company, Taikoz and the Australian Chamber Orchestra to accompany the 300 young people on stage.
The choir comprised school students from towns across rural and remote NSW who were brought together for an intensive week of song, dance and Taiko drumming. The program featured new work commissioned by Moorambilla Voices and was met with standing ovations in the packed houses across the concerts.
Ronan said “Each year Moorambilla comissions work by contemporary Australian composers. These stories and the landscape in West-NSW, where it’s Kamilaroi and Wiradjuri country, are what these kids have grown up learning and knowing as home so it’s extraordinary for them to learn song, dance and even Taiko drumming through stories about where they are actually from”
“It was such a memorable experience. We got to witness some pedagogical mastery from Michelle Leonard OAM, perform a host of new Australian works alongside fabulous musicians (with the composers present), and have a great time out west with lots of lovely people.”
Noah Lawrence.
“The whole Moorambilla team were really warm and interested in us – I’m in awe of the organisation and everyone who makes it up, and the effect they have on the kids in the region is profound. The team works so hard, and the sense of community feels very strong. The four of us from AYO are in agreement that it was a really meaningful opportunity, and valuable for our development.”
