From awards to performances near and far, the AYO community claimed some of Australia’ most exciting opportunities and achievements this month. With announcements continuing to roll in, read all about the ones to watch below.
Recent appointments
Lerida Delbridge, who was violin participant in AYO between 1998 to 2001, has recently been announced as the Artistic Director of the Blackheath Chamber Music Festival. The festival, based in the Blue Mountains, will run from 16 to 18 April 2027. As the Principal Second Violin at the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Lerida’s passion and vibrancy will be injected in the Blackheath Chamber Music Festival as she takes on this new role.
Recent alumna, Stephanie Tran who undertook the AYO Orchestral Management program fellowship in 2025, has been appointed as Horizon Orchestral’s Operations Manager. In Horizon’s Orchestral recent Sydney concert, Stephanie was instrumental in the success of the concert. This professional appointment is a testament to Stephanie’s growing experience in Orchestral Management.
While Nicholas Carter, who conducted the AYO in 2014 Camerata and the 2024 Winter Season, has been announced as Melbourne Symphony Orchestra‘s Chief Guest Conductor for 2027, joining Chief Conductor & Artistic Advisor Jaime Martín and Principal Guest Conductor Ben Northey.
Nicholas Carter conducting the AYO Flagship in their 2024 Winter season (credit: Mark Gambino)
Performance achievements
Many AYO alumni were performing as part of the Australian World Orchestra‘s recent performances of Stravinsky, Mills & Shostakovich in Melbourne and Sydney. The AWO’s annual performances bring together Australia’s best classical musicians from around the world, and acts as a reunion of many players who first met together in AYO. Oliver Shermacher was a clarinetist with the AYO from 2013 Symphonists to 2018 and later mentored the AYO Momentum Ensemble in 2024 alongside LSO Violinist and alumni Belinda MacFarlane (Violin, 1984 –88). Both appeared with the Australian World Orchestra in Melbourne and Sydney on 19 and 20 August, under Maestro Alexander Briger AO.
From left to right: Oliver Shermacher (AYO 2013-2018), Paul Dean (AYO 1985-86), Lisa Outred (AYO 1990-91), Wind Section, including Lyndon Watts (AYO 1992-92) and David Mitchell (AYO 1998-2001) Credit: Carmen Zammit and Daniel Boud
Trumpetist, Arkie Moore (2019-current) recently performed at Parliament House, Canberra for a fanfare proceeding the entrance of the Governor-General and Speaker of the House to the opening of the National Youth Parliament on Monday 17 August. Wearing Ikuntji clothing, Arkie brought a truly special opening to Youth Parliament.
Recently, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performed Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto with Soloist Yeol Eum So. The reviews were in, and notable mentions went to alumna Lily Bryant, who was a flutist with the AYO from 2016 to 2021. Reviewed by Steve Moffat for Limelight, he described Lily’s playing as “glorious” throughout the Piano concert.
Upcoming Performances
Alice Morgan, who was a saxophone and orchestral management participant in 2018, will perform the world premiere of Andrew Howes’ Lyrebird Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Orchestra with the Northern Sydney Symphony Orchestra on the 19th of September, at Verbrugghen Hall.
Violist, Tom Protat (2024 – current) and cellist Ethan Chiao (2022 – current) will perform two concerts for rural audiences in Taree from 29 – 30 August, alongside violinist Linda Gillbert.
Looking further forward, violinist Eden Annesley (2022 – current) and saxophonist Lola Schuele (Bassoon, 2024) will perform Autumn Rhythms alongside Brisbane-based group, Blue Poles at Topology Studios on 27 September.
Left to right: Tom Protat, Ethan Chiao and Duo Aki’s (Eden Annesley and Lola Schuele) upcoming concert at Topology studios, Brisbane
Awards and Scholarships
Cellist, William Thorpe (2023-2024) was recently announced as the 2026 Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Rising Star. As part of this opportunity, William will receive the $2500 Tim Bugg AM Rising Star Award and appear with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra later in the year. This is a significant opportunity to gain professional orchestral experience, and the prize will support further plans to study overseas.
Current Media and Communications fellow Bridget Hutchinson have been awarded the Winifred Hurford Award for a Pianist, presented by the Royal Schools Music Club Inc. The Hurford Awards recognise excellence in both singing and collaborative piano, with one singer and one pianist each receiving a $2,000 prize. Bridget’s musicianship was recognised through this award, and this is a significant step in her career as a collaborative pianist.
Taking out places in the Sydney Eisterfodd, many AYO participants and alumni were featured. This year, saxophonist Alex Guo (2025 AYO Young Symphonists, Alto Saxophone) was awarded first place in the Saxophone section of the Sydney Eisteddfod. Flute participant Mirae Lee (2026 AYO Symphonists) was awarded first place in the Flute section of the Sydney Eisteddfod and oboist Joshua Shin (2025 – current participant) was awarded first place in the Double Reed Instrument category of the Sydney Eisteddfod.
More awards were won in different places. William Barton, alongside Omega Ensemble was awarded Best Independent Classical Album or EP alongside Omega Ensemble at the 2026 AIR Awards for ‘Gift – Our Breath of Life’. David Rowden, clarinetist and artistic director of Omega Ensemble, accepted the award on behalf of Omega Ensemble. William Barton has appeared as featured artist with AYO in 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020 and most recently on the 2025 International Tour.
Left to right: Bridget Hutchinson receiving the Winifred Hurford Award for a pianist (credit: Annabelle Richardson), William Thorpe is the 2026 TSO Rising Star and The AIR awards presenters for “Best Independent Classical Album or EP” (Credit: Lucy Partington)
MRC Finalists
Melbourne Recital Centre’s Great Romantics Competition returns in 2026, and the finalists have been recently announced, with many alumni and current participants amongst the selection, including Freya Parr (Clarinet, 2024 – 2025), Andre Oberleuter (Bassoon, 2019 – 2022), Andrew Wang (Violin, 2017 – 2025) and Fiasco Quartet, featuring AYO alumni, Ian Chiao (Violin, 2022-2025) and Lachy MacLaren (Violin, 2019). Performing works from the Romantic repertoire, the finalists will compete for the prestigious Elisabeth Murdoch Prize, which also includes media and professional development opportunities. Reaching this stage of the competition is a significant achievement in each of the musician’s career trajectories.
Left to right: Freya Parr, Ian Chiao and Andrew Wang are finalists in the MRC Great Romantics Competition
Award nominations
In other news, the Australian Women in Music awards have announced the finalists for 2026. In the category of Excellence in Classical Music, which recognizes a mid-to-late career female or gender-diverse classical music artist who has demonstrated musical excellence throughout their career, the finalists include Sophie Rowell, who is a long-term alumna. Sophie completed AYO programs from 1994 until 2000 and was the Director of the Brislan Chamber Orchestra at the 2024 National Music Camp. Other Alumni, such as Megan Burslem (Media and Communication, AYO 2014) was nominated for the category of Music Journalism Award and Stephanie Nicholls (Oboe, 1983-1988) for the category of the Creative Leadership Award. 2025 Composition mentor Jessica Wells is also a finalist in the Excellence in Classical Music category and Australian Artistic Excellence Award.
Left to right: Megan Burslem (AWMA Music Journalism finalist), Sophie Rowell and Jessica Wells (AWMA Finalists in Excellence in Classical Music award)
Composition achievements
The voices of AYO composers and alumni continued to be amplified and heard across the nation.
This month, alumni Beth Roche and Jessie Leov (AYO Composition 2025), Thomas Misson (AYO Composition 2019) and Robert McIntyre (AYO Composition 2021) premiered their new works in the New Now 2026 concert in Sydney on 14 August. The concert showcased four new works composed by participants in Omega Ensemble‘s 2026 CoLAB: Composer Accelerator Program.
The Australian Music Centre has announced the 2026 Momentum PLUS composers, which includes Andrew Aronowicz (Media and Communication, 2013) and Andrew Howes (Violin, 2006 – 2010). This is a significant achievement in AYO alumni’s careers, where the initiative, now in its second year, MOMENTUM Plus is intended to support Australian composers to record large-scale orchestral works, enabling exclusive ownership and utilization to connect with audiences and unlock potential performance opportunities.
On their recent Toowoomba and Gold Coast tour, Ensemble Q programmed Somam and the Silence by alumna Anne Cawrse (AYO Composition 2006) and 2027 Media and Communications mentor Ed le Brocq. Other programmed features across the nation were for AVÉ (Australian Vocal Ensemble) The Long Moment in Sydney and Adelaide this August where works by Lachlan Skipworth (AYO Composition 2007) and Aaron Wyatt (AYO 2004-2007) were performed.
Left to right: Beth Roche, Jessie Leov and Robert McIntyre, (middle) Lachlan Skipworth as 2024 AYO Composition mentor and (right) Andrew Arononiwz as 2026 AYO Media and Communication mentor