Australian Youth Orchestra
In memoriam
Richard Gill AO
“Like the fading of a beautiful sustained note, or that magical silence following a fabulous performance, a loss as significant as Richard Gill cannot be adequately explained or understood. This loss – like music – evokes, suggests and implies. But what we can do is keep making a multitude of sounds. And in every one of them, we know and celebrate that Richard is still there with us.”
– Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra
Members of the AYO community are greatly saddened by the passing of Richard Gill. He is a person that inspired everyone who met him; in many countries, organisations, and communities.
Australian Youth Orchestra has been fortunate to share Richard’s vision with musicians and students during the past forty years; from his first role as conductor at National Music Camp in 1979, director of Camerata Australia in the 1990s, Music Director of National Music Camp in 2014 to Director of the National Music Teacher Mentoring Program – a role that he was fulfilling right up until his death. Through this work, Richard has made a profound impact on thousands of young people, fellow performers and teachers, and arts administrators throughout Australia and worldwide.
Richard’s death leaves a large hole and a great challenge for us to boldly pursue; the vision he so clearly shared with the world – to ensure every child has access to quality music education.