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For nearly 80 years, the Australian Youth Orchestra has helped young musicians develop their skills, broaden their horizons and imagine what might be possible in a life shaped by music.
For AYO CEO Kimbali Harding, creating those opportunities is about much more than performance experience. It’s about showing young musicians pathways they may never have considered before.
In a recent interview with CutCommon, Harding reflected on the responsibility organisations like AYO have in shaping those experiences.
“I’m a really firm believer of ‘you have to see it to be it’, so who we put on the podium, the repertoire that we program, where we perform, the environment that we perform in, the environment that we learn in, says so much.”
It’s an idea that runs through every aspect of the AYO experience. Whether it’s working with internationally renowned artists, performing major repertoire, collaborating with peers from across Australia, or engaging with musicians from around the world, these experiences help young people see a future in music that feels tangible and achievable.
Harding believes that exposure to inspiring environments and role models can have a profound impact on a young musician’s aspirations.
“There is an ‘aha’ moment where [the young musicians] step out for the first time … and there’s this moment of connection with history, with all of the culture, the art form that they’ve been studying, but also connection to a possible future.”
That thinking is reflected in initiatives such as the 2027 collaboration between AYO Symphonists, the Singapore National Youth Orchestra and the New Zealand Youth Orchestra. While the project offers valuable international performance and exchange opportunities, it also demonstrates what Harding sees as equally important: creating environments where young musicians can learn from peers, mentors and professionals whose careers show the many directions music can take them.
The collaboration will feature two distinguished AYO alumni whose careers exemplify those possibilities. Singapore Symphony Orchestra Principal Cello Pei-Sian Ng will appear as soloist, while composer Abigail Lui‘s work Aerial Dances will be performed as part of the project.
For participants, seeing alumni return not only as successful artists but as contributors to the artistic life of the program reinforces a powerful message: there is no single pathway through music, but there are many possibilities.
Beyond artistic development, Harding also sees these experiences as opportunities to foster connection and understanding across cultures.
“They can be a part of something that is bigger than themselves, and they’re connecting with their international colleagues creating understandings, empathy, multiple perspectives, and that fosters an international empathy that we need more and more of in today’s community.”
For AYO, creating exceptional musical experiences has always been central to its mission. Yet, as Harding’s reflections suggest, the most lasting impact may be helping young musicians see new possibilities for themselves and their futures.