Australian Youth Orchestra
AYO National Music Camp 2025 Week 2 by Tirion Luff-White
Media and Communications Blog
Blog 3 – A Run Out
What a week. What a two weeks even. The epic highs and lows of National Music Camp finally concluded with a brilliant day of concerts and now it is time to reflect. Where to start…
On Monday we had the infamous annual tutors vs students cricket match which ended in a relatively close and likely somewhat inaccurate final score of 66-131 to the tutors. This was largely a result of wild umpiring decisions, Peter Luff absolutely carrying for the tutors and the students opting to give as many people as possible a chance to bat by changing the batters every 3 balls. Socialism did not serve the students well at all as they ultimately lost very badly. There were rumours of sandpaper and deliberate incorrect scoring on the tutors’ part; however, the students could not back up these claims with real evidence.
Tuesday was another long day, the first of three days of chamber concerts to delight us. There were many interesting costumes, though I still have questions about the logistics of playing with one eye covered with an eyepatch, or a sword tucked into your belt. This was similar to the following day, which featured even more daring costumes and extravagant performances.
Another MACer and I ended our Wednesday at the Adelaide Oval Big Bash game 35 by watching the cricket, and by “watching the cricket” I mean standing outside the gate trying to see what was going on through the metal bars separating us from what seemed like a good time. Despite being in cricket jail, or perhaps the inverse, we witnessed Steve Smith get run out and reflected on the similarities between his history and that of our own NMC cricketing stars, possible and undeniably evident cheating. It really brings our little old classical music world and the wide world of sport closer together.
Another interesting link, between our fine professions is that for centuries they have been viewed as entertainment for communities, societies, and civilizations. In almost every context throughout written and spoken history, there has been music and some form of game-based activity that later developed into what we know as sport. Unfortunately for our side of the world, the value of sport as a profession has exponentially grown in value, whereas society’s perceived value, which let’s face it, is monetary, has stayed the same and even diminished for classical music. It appears it is the burden of this emerging generation of classical musicians to find ways to stop our ship from sinking, which is exactly what AYO is training us for.
The public chamber concert on Thursday evening was personally memorable for only one reason: my improvised Stuart Greenbaum speech was given at the expense of my pride. Every day, I close my eyes and see the orchestral management students only just starting to move the piano and turning to see Elder Hall staring back into my soul as I unwillingly uttered the words, “So who wants to hear a fun story about Stuart Greenbaum?” to fill time. Fortunately, they were receptive to my improvisatory tales, and I managed to stall for what felt like an eternity (1 minute and 30 seconds) with some amount of success.
Friday was a bit of a fever dream that ended in a concoction of brass and percussion. Admittedly this was particularly entertaining but the energy building for our big finale was beginning to boil over. There were no bakery visits with as much sleep as possible being jammed into that evening in preparation for our big day.
Saturday morning was filled with excited but tired eyes as the select few chamber groups filed in for their live broadcast on ABC Classic. My fellow MACers and I did our interviews with great success and a wave of relief came over those who had finished their public speaking responsibilities for the rest of camp. Some of us were less fortunate, with speeches and interviews to prepare for later that evening. Concerts 3 and 4 were incredibly energetic; nothing could’ve prepared me for how fulfilling it would be to watch my peers present two weeks of hard work and a lifetime of preparation for this moment. An experience of a lifetime.
Stay tuned!
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.