16 June 2013
AYO Touring History
Since 1970 AYO has been a cultural ambassador for Australia, touring the globe with some of the world’s leading conductors and artists, including Sir Charles Mackerras, Sir Mark Elder, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Pinchas Zukerman and Yakov Kreizberg.
1970
Inaugural tour to Osaka, Japan for EXPO 70
1975
AYO embarks on an Asian tour to the Philippines, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong
1976
AYO travels to the USA performing as part of the US Bicentennial under conductor John Hopkins with soloist Zoltán Kocsis (piano).
1979
AYO becomes the first Australian orchestra to visit China. A special highlight being the joint appearance with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.
1984
AYO’s first European tour sees concerts in Yugoslavia, France (being the first Australian orchestra to perform in Paris), The Netherlands and UK
1988
Funded by the Australian Bicentennial Foundation, AYO tours Asia and Europe under the baton of Christoph Eschenbach
1991
Engagements fulfilled in North and South America, the highlight being an appearance at Carnegie Hall as part of its centenary season
1992
Sees the AYO tour the Sydney Choral Festival to Indonesia
1993
Inaugural tour to New Zealand followed by a tour later that year to Japan
1994
Another successful European tour directed by the dynamic maestro Yakov Kreizberg
1995
The orchestra tours France
1996
World tour with concerts in Sydney, Amsterdam, Germany and North America
featuring a performance with the Atlanta Youth Symphony at the Cultural Olympiad in Atlanta
1997
The Camerata Australia tour to the UK
1998
A return tour to China
1999
A South Pacific tour including New Zealand, Vanuatu and New Caledonia
2001
AYO tours North America and Europe under the batons of conductors Mikko Franck and Vladimir Ashkenazy
2004
A return to Europe including eight appearances at summer festivals under baton of Lawrence Foster
2007
A tour to Europe marks the orchestra’s 50th anniversary
2010
The most ambitious tour yet, sees the orchestra cross Australia, China and Europe under baton of Sir Mark Elder
2013
AYO tours to Europe with artists Christoph Eschenbach, Joshua Bell and William Barton
2016
The AYO tours across destinations in Europe, China, before finally returning to Australia conducted by Manfred Honeck, Fabian Russell and featuring concert pianist Helene Grimaud.
The AYO appeared at the Kissinger Sommer Festival, Germany; Rhiengau Musik Festival, Germany; Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany; Concertgebouw, Amsterdam; Shanghai Oriental Art Centre, Shanghai; National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing
2019
The AYO International Tour took a diverse program across The Netherlands, Germany, France, China, Australia with conductor, Krzysztof Urbański and associate conductor, Daniel Carter, and soloists Jan Lisiecki (piano) and Daniel Müller-Schott (cello).
2025
The AYO tours across Europe for the first international tour after 6 years with conductors David Robertson and Carlo Antonioli and soloists Chirstian Li (violin) and William Barton (digeridoo). The locations across the tour included, Mecklenburg Vorpommern Festival, Niendorf auf Poel; Musikverein, Vienna; Stefaniensaal, Graz; Het Concertgebouw, Amsterdam; Rheingau Musikfestival, Kurhaus, Wiesbaden; Grosse Sendesaal RBB, Berlin