Australian Youth Orchestra
AYO National Music Camp 2025 Day One by Sophia Mackson
Media and Communications Blog
photo: Sophia Mackson
I really love first rehearsals. You’re entering uncharted ground, with people you may not have played with before and a conductor you’ve never worked with before. A first rehearsal is filled with excitement: the anticipation of unpacking a new piece, hearing new music, sharing music with others, and gaining knowledge. On the first day of NMC, the energy in the rehearsal room is apparent.
On Monday, I went to listen to each orchestra at their rehearsals. The musicians’ ability to respond to one another and their conductor was outstanding. Compared to my previous experience in an NMC orchestra, seeing it from the audience’s perspective is eye-opening. It allows you to see the jigsaw puzzle, piecing together an orchestra bit by bit from day one to build an interpretation.
A first rehearsal also exposes you to the components of your part that require the most practice; you’re adjusting to a new orchestra while discovering how your section functions as a whole. Each conductor and section principals have such enthusiasm; they are confident in their roles and brave in leading their orchestra and new sections. This applies to every performer in the orchestra, as they all contribute to the creation of a collective interpretation. Each musician at the rehearsal provides their own sound that best portrays the composer’s ideas, while also creating an experience for the listener. This is what National Music Camp produces in two weeks – a collaboration. This collaboration isn’t flawless right now, but in two weeks, it will be something that an audience can indulge in. Something that will move them, entertain and ideally add meaning.
I really love first rehearsals. Seeing the energy of the orchestra working together as one, creating a piece of art together is an adventure worth witnessing.
About National Music Camp
Founded in 1948, National Music Camp has become the cornerstone of our training. Over two intensive weeks, around 220 of the country’s most talented young musicians come together to be mentored by world-class tutors, artists, and conductors. They experience music-making at the highest national level as part of exceptional symphony or chamber orchestras.
Behind the scenes, aspiring arts leaders from the Media and Communication, Orchestral Management, and Sound Production programs collaborate to bring today’s concert to life. Whether crafting compelling narratives about music’s cultural impact, mastering stage management logistics, or capturing the magic of live performance in pristine audio, these participants are guided by industry experts, challenged, and inspired at every step.
Together with the Composition program, which fosters the creation of bold new works, this comprehensive approach to orchestral and arts administration training cultivates a dynamic environment where creativity and passion unite, lifelong friendships and collaborations are sparked, and Australia’s arts scene is reinvigorated. As the lifeblood of culture, the arts enrich our lives, connect us, challenge us, and transform us.