8 July 2026
AYO Musicians join NZSO National Youth Orchestra in Trans-Tasman exchange
Congratulations to AYO participants Joshua Elrom (contrabassoon) and Thomas Ferreira-Montague (horn) who were recently invited to take part in New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s National Youth Orchestra’s 2026 Season as part of ongoing exchange activities between AYO and NZSO NYO.
The pair travelled to Auckland for a week of rehearsals with the NZSO NYO, with performances in Wellington and Auckland on 3 and 4 July respectively. The concerts, conducted by Dane Lam, included Britten’s Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes, Debussy’s La Mer and the New Zealand premiere of Michael-Thomas Fournai’s Raise Hawaiki. Read Elizabeth Kerr’s review in Five Lines HERE. The youth orchestra participants also attended a side-by-side rehearsal with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra during the week.
For Melbourne bassoonist Joshua, who also attended AYO’s National Music Camp in Adelaide in January, meeting new people and learning about audition preparation were the most valuable aspects of the exchange.
“My week has been excellent. I’ve had a chance to meet a lot of new and different people and it’s been really great to play music with them.”
Joshua Elrom, Contrabassoon
During the week he also took part in bassoon sectionals, played in a wind quartet and took part in mock auditions.
“I think the most valuable experience that I had this week was the audition preparation class. We then had a mock audition playing our Mozart concerto and excerpts. People got eliminated through the rounds and it was very exciting to like to go through that actual process and get the nerves up and to really feel what that’s all about.”
Queensland Horn player Thomas, agreed: “It was such a great experience getting to run through what it’s like doing a professional blind audition, doing rounds, and then getting amazing feedback from the NZSO players. It was such a great experience for the real world.”
AYO Senior Coordinator – Program Operations Peyton Hawkins also attended the camp as part of an ongoing professional exchange initiative between Australia’s and New Zealand’s leading youth orchestras, further strengthening collaboration and knowledge-sharing between the two organisations.
AYO Chief Executive Officer Kimbali Harding said the ongoing partnership with the NZSO National Youth Orchestra highlighted the value of collaboration across the Tasman.
“These exchanges provide extraordinary opportunities for young artists to expand their horizons, build new connections and experience different artistic environments. Just as importantly, they create valuable opportunities for our staff and artistic teams to share knowledge, expertise and best practice with colleagues in New Zealand.
Kimbali Harding, AYO CEO
“We are proud to work alongside the NZSO National Youth Orchestra to create meaningful professional opportunities for musicians and strengthen the orchestral sector in both countries.”
The exchange also forms part of a broader and growing partnership between AYO and the NZSO National Youth Orchestra. In 2027, the connection will continue when musicians from New Zealand join AYO Symphonists and the Singapore National Youth Orchestra for an international residency in Singapore, bringing together young artists from across the region to learn from one another, share musical perspectives and build lasting professional connections
About NZSO National Youth Orchestra
The NZSO National Youth Orchestra of young musicians under the age of 25 who meet annually to rehearse and perform a large symphonic repertoire in Wellington over the course of a week.
The musicians are selected by taped audition, and for many, this is the one occasion each year when they get to work with a full orchestra and professional conductors and soloists.
Formed in 1959, the National Youth Orchestra has played a vital role in providing unique opportunities for the country’s most gifted young orchestral performers. NYO players have the opportunity to learn from and perform with leading conductors, artists and musicians of the NZSO. Many have gone on to forge successful careers as orchestral players, soloists, chamber musicians and teachers.