AYO Flagship: Fire and Fantasy

Melbourne-born horn player Henry Eames is a graduate of Monash University, where he completed a Bachelor of Music and an Honours degree in Secondary Education in 2025. He began learning horn from Yang Xiao from 2014-2021, and Roman Ponomariov from 2022-2025.

Henry is quickly establishing himself as an emerging orchestral and chamber musician in Australia. He holds a casual position with the Melbourne-Symphony Orchestra and Melbourne Opera and has performed extensively as a freelance musician across Melbourne. He has appeared with ensembles including the Australian Youth Orchestra, performing in the 2025 National Music Camp and Chamber Players, and previously with the Monash Academy Orchestra, where he was Principal Horn for 4 years. Henry also performs regularly with the Noctus Horn Trio and the Zyphers Wind Quintet, exploring both core repertoire and contemporary Australian works.

Henry has been recognised through numerous awards, including being a finalist in the Monash University Concerto Competition for three consecutive years (2023-2025), a finalist in the 3MBS Young Talent Competition (2024), winner of the Monash Australian Music Prize (2024), runner up for the Allan Zavod Competition (2024 and 2025) and recipient of the Monash Academy of Performing Arts Orchestral Scholarship (2022).

Outside of music, Henry enjoys playing golf, catching big fish, cooking and is passionate about music education.

In 2026, Henry will be undertaking his first year of studies at ANAM under Carla Blackwood and Ben Jacks.

Jude Austen Kaupe completed his Bachelor of Music at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University before continuing his honours study at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, graduating in 2025. At these institutions he has been under the tutorage of esteemed horn players Rachel Silver, Peter Luff and Ysolt Clark.

As an active freelancer in Sydney and Brisbane, Jude has the privilege of working with world class orchestras such as the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Camerata Chamber Orchestra. Jude’s passion for music continues with his deep involvement with chamber groups. He is a member of up and coming Orpheus Quintet, AFCM Fellowship ensemble for 2026, and has featured as an artist at Tyalgum Chamber Music Festival. In 2023, he competed at the International Horn Symposium in Montreal, winning the Horn Ensemble competition with renowned QHorns.

Whilst Jude invests much of his time into musical endeavours, he also enjoys spending time at Sydney’s beaches, playing soccer with friends and home-brewed morning coffees.

Sarah Bernard first started learning piano at the age of five, however, she truly discovered her passion for music after choosing to play the horn at school.

She recently completed her Bachelors of Music Performance with Honours at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, under the tutelage of Rachel Silver and Michael Wray.

Sarah has been the recipient of the Richard Merewether Horn prize at the Sydney Conservatorium in 2023 and 2024. Sarah has served as principal horn on the Sydney Conservatorium’s International Wind Symphony tour, as well as in their Symphony Orchestras. She has also been lucky enough to take part in the Australian Chamber Music Festival Pathways Program, as a member of Infront Brass. Sarah has the privilege of performing with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. She was a participant of AYO National Music Camp in both 2025 and 2026 and looks forward to performing with the Australian Youth Orchestra flagship orchestra.

Lucy Smith is currently studying at the Sydney Conservatorium with Rachel Silver and Sam Jacobs. First learning the piano and trumpet, Lucy began learning the horn in late high school with Rafael Salgado, instantly falling in love with it. Upon finishing school in Sydney, she moved to Melbourne for 3 years, learning from Carla Blackwood at the Melbourne Con. Lucy has been lucky enough to play casually with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia Orchestra, and Orchestra Victoria. She loves the teamwork required to play in a horn section and hopes to one day be part of an Australian orchestra. While obviously loving the late-romantic, horn-heavy works of Mahler and Strauss, Lucy also has a particular soft spot for Mozart and Haydn symphonies and will often finish off her day with Mozart’s ‘Jupiter’ Symphony blasting through the speakers in her practice room, playing along with the second horn part. Lucy has a keen interest in early music and her ultimate dream would be to get to play with some of the incredible period instrument ensembles we have in Australia.

Thomas Ferreira-Montague is a dedicated young horn player from Brisbane, currently completing his Bachelor of Music (Honours) at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (QCGU) under the mentorship of Associate Professor Peter Luff and Ms Ysolt Clark. A finalist in 2025 QCGU XO Brass Prize, Thomas enjoys playing a wide range of music that includes solo, chamber and symphonic works.

Thomas has been fortunate enough to have performed with ensembles such as the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, Southern Cross Symphony, The Metropolitan Orchestra Brisbane, Ensemble Q, Queensland Ballet and Opera Queensland (OQ). As well as that, Thomas is currently the Principal Horn of the Queensland Youth Symphony (QYS), a member of the Queensland Wind Orchestra, as well as playing principal positions with the Queensland Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra.

Thomas has also been fortunate to tour and perform in the Queensland Outback with OQ and has toured internationally to Singapore, Austria and Germany playing in renowned concert halls like the esteemed Musikverein with QYS. He has also had the privilege of participating in masterclasses with internationally renowned horn players Sarah Willis, Katy Wooley and Andrew Bain.

In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with friends, going on runs, being outdoors and perfecting making coffee.

Matthew Hyam is a trumpet player from Nowra, NSW. He began playing trumpet in 2016 in his Year 6 concert band under the guidance of John Dunstan. He is currently in his fourth year at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music working towards completing his BMus (Performance) Degree under Dave Elton and Owen Morris.

Matthew has been an avid orchestral trumpet player since he began in the Shoalhaven Youth Orchestra in 2017. Since 2021 he has been a participant in the Sydney Youth Orchestras and from 2023-2025 was in their flagship ensemble. Since 2024 he has been a member of Australian Youth Orchestra and in 2026 will perform as Principal Trumpet at National Music Camp as well as their Summer Season. Matthew is also a regular casual with both the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Opera Australia performing in exciting programs such as Janacek Sinfonietta in 2025 with SSO and OA’s upcoming season of Turandot.

Outside of his Orchestral playing, Matthew is a passionate Brass Bander and regular member of the Willoughby Band where he has performed as both Principal and Soprano Cornet. He has been given opportunities to perform internationally with several ‘project’ bands such as Brass Band Newcastle in 2025 for the New Zealand National Band Championship. Matthew has also been selected as Repiano Cornet for Australia Brass which will compete at the World Music Contest 2026 in Kerkrade, Netherlands.

Toby will graduate from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2026, having studied with Owen Morris and David Elton.

Making his trumpet debut in year 3 concert band, he joined the Sydney Youth Orchestra family in 2017 (starting out in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, led by then-teacher James Pensini). SYO highlights include Owen Morris’ performance of the Haydn Trumpet Concerto in the Sydney Opera House (listening on and playing from the orchestra), and Toby’s final concert as a member of the SYO, performing Mahler’s Seventh Symphony.

Under the guidance of long-time-mentor Daniel Mendelow, Toby successfully auditioned for his first AYO camp in 2022. Recently, he has had the privilege of performing with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, twice alongside his brother Cooper.

When not performing, Toby enjoys teaching at The Kings’ School, Santa Sabina College, and St Aloysius’ College. When not thinking about music, he can be found eating and sometimes sleeping.

Zachary Allen’s love for music began at the age of six, when he and his brother, growing up in a world filled with LEGO, were encouraged to learn piano. Although initially reluctant, music soon became integral to their lives, leading them to take up the trumpet. His first performance was a bold attempt at “Greensleeves,” which went well except for the last note… In time, he and his brother began playing duets for friends and neighbours and joined the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra’s Wind Ensemble, eventually becoming co-principal trumpet in the flagship orchestra. It was here that his passion for music flourished as he performed iconic orchestral excerpts.

At 12, Zachary was awarded the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra’s Aviva Scholarship, allowing him to study with Principal Trumpet Yoram Levy. By this point, he had saved enough prize money from Eisteddfod wins to purchase his own Bach Stradivarius trumpet. At 16, he successfully auditioned for his first national youth orchestra, a milestone that significantly advanced his musical development.

Currently, Zachary is pursuing a double degree in music and physics at the University of Tasmania. Inspired and driven by music, he dreams of performing as a soloist and becoming a principal trumpet in a leading orchestra.

Toby is a second year musician at ANAM studying under ASO principal trombone Colin Prichard. Before beginning his studies at to ANAM Toby completed a Bachelor of Music with Honours degree at the University of Melbourne under Professor Don Immel, and earlier, a Bachelor of Music at the University of Tasmania studying under David Robins.

With a love for performing orchestral music, Toby has previously had opportunities to perform alongside the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, the University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and has been involved in several past programs with the Australian Youth Orchestra. Of these experiences he has most enjoyed performing ballet suites of Stravinsky and Prokofiev.

Photography: Pia Johnson

Luke is a young trombonist heading into his third year at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, studying under Nigel Crocker and Scott Kinmont. After his preliminary piano exam at 8 years old, he was determined to learn another instrument that could “do everything”. After some exploration Luke decided on the trombone because he loved its low sound. The trombone has captivated him ever since.

While at the Sydney Conservatorium, Luke has performed extensively with the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Opera Orchestra and Brass Ensemble. In his first year, he was selected to tour with the Sydney Conservatorium’s Wind Symphony to Japan and South Korea. Luke also plays the alto sackbut in the Conservatorium’s Cornett and Sackbut group under Matthew Manchester. Outside of the Conservatorium, Luke has seen great competition success, winning the NSW State Band Solos Open Tenor Trombone category in 2025 and placing third in the National Band Championships Open Tenor Trombone category in 2025. He performs and competes with the Castle Hill RSL Northwest Wind Ensemble and Willoughby Brass Band.

This is Luke’s first program with AYO and he is super keen to share his love of music with fellow young Australian musicians.