It was a big month for AYO alumni across the nation. With guest masterclasses, principal appointments and extended performance engagements, the AYO community continues to make significant strides in their careers.
Recent appointments
Jethro Llewellyn (French Horn, 2026) has been appointed Associate Principal Horn of the Darwin Symphony Orchestra. This is a significant achievement which speaks to Jethro’s development as a versatile and expressive orchestral musician. Turning an eye to management, Adam Szabo (Cello, 2009 – 2012) has been announced as Managing Director of ANAM from 2027. Former Director of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Adam will impart his wealth of experience through his new role at ANAM.
Performance achievements
AYO musicians and emerging ensembles have been in masterclasses with some of the world’s best this month. A key milestone in Sydney Conservatorium of Music student, Andy Lin (Cello, 2023 – current) and Sydney Symphony Orchestra 2026 Fellows, Noah Lawrence (Cello, 2018-current) and Rio Kawaguchi (2019-2025), was the opportunity to perform in a masterclass at the Sydney Opera House led by internationally acclaimed cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason. Through this experience, the musicians gained a deeper understanding of their repertoire and experienced what its’ like take on feedback in front of a live audience.
Festival opportunities
Heading much farther North to Cairns, many of the AYO community came together as part of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music. Charlotte Miles (Cello alumna and recent soloist with AYO), Orpheus Quintet featuring Kara Thorpe (Flute, 2019-2024) Gahyun Lee (Oboe, 2024-2025), Justin Wang (Clarinet, 2023-), Dylan Roberts (Bassoon, 2022-2025), Jude Austen Kaupe (Horn, 2021-), Montana Quartet (Sofia Tortorelli, Sarah Chiu, Sterling Rieck, Rowan Oliver Parr), Quintet Evergreen (Karen Chen, Stephanie Sheridan), Marigold Trio (Hannah Grogan, Jennifer Li, Charlotte He), Cedar Quartet (Jessica Leigh, Sara Barbagallo, Edmund Mantelli), The IncrediBows (Eric Kim, Holly Shelton) and Hanuelle Lovell received mentorship with alumna Lloyd Van’t Hoff and other tutors. They had performance opportunties across a range of venues in the Cairns community. This opportunity provided the chance to perform routinely through an intense period and receive mentorship from some of the world’s leading musicians.
Competition and scholarship achievements
Another opportunity bringing many of the AYO community is Musica Viva 2026 National Strike A Chord Compeition. The finalists have been announced and include ATC Trio (Ellie Kyoung), The Celeste Quartet (Alanna Kennedy, Annika Ganesh, Sherry Cheng), Elija Quartet (Ellie Kyoung), JMPS Ensemble Sonore (Hue Tan), Kingussie Trio (Gabriel Liu), Led Trio (Emma Li, Liuen Park), Quartet Avenoir (Samuel Hooper, Liam Beak, Juah Hyun, Jun Gardiner), Quatuor Fabriqués (Kieran Lin, Jun Gardiner) and Vanta Quartet (Haruki Muramatsu). All finalists will compete on the 29th of August at the Melbourne Recital Centre. The opportunity to perform in the MRC alongside the best and brightest young musicians in the nation is a significant marker in these AYO musicians’ careers.
AYO musicians also appeared across high-stakes competitions this month. Violinist Siobhan Makinson (Violin, 2025-2026) has been announced as a finalist for the 2026 Vose Memorial Concerto Competition following the semi-finals on Monday 27 July at the UWA Conservatorium of Music. Furthermore, Juah Hyun (Violin, 2024 -) and Lily Dai (Cello, 2022-2023), were named the 2026 Junior and Senior Winners (respectively) of the NSW Doctors Orchestra Scholarship on Saturday 18 July. This is a valuable achievement which will allow both musicians to seek further opportunities with the prize money.
Lastly, Ezra Uxó Williams (Violin, 2020 –2025) has been awarded the prestigious Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship for his Master of Orchestral Instruments at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Germany. Making up the 28 scholars across all disciplines, receiving this scholarship is a significant achievement.
Juah Hyun (left) and Lily Dai (right) receiving prizes in the 2026 NSW Doctors Orchestra Scholarship
Composition achievements
Alumnus Aaron Wyatt (Viola, 2004 – 2007) has been awarded the Australian Academy of Humanities’ 2026 John Mulvaney Fellowship. Under the Fellowship, Aaron will travel to New Norcia to access musical material, alongside records of Yuen and Noongar language to inspire new musical work. In other exciting news, Andy Firth (Bassoon, 1980-1982), Beth Roche (Composition, 2025), Philip Eames (Piano, 2009), Phillip Cullen (Composition, 2023) and Sophia Mackson (Viola, 2019, Media and Communication, 2025) have been announced as Australian Music Centre Associate Artists. As Associate Artists, these composers’ biographies and works will become a part the AMC collection, which will be accessed and distributed across the world.
Touring News
There are two tours happening near you in the coming months you won’t want to miss. Paul Nicolaou (Harp, 2022-2025, Composition, 2025 and Media and Communication, 2026) is presenting Elemental Resonance which returns in an expanded format for its national tour, with seven performances across five cities and regional centers. Directing and performing on his own tour, this tour is a significant step in Paul’s performance career.
Hanuelle Lovell (Violin, 2022-2025) has been touring with pianist, Reuben Tsang to Cairns, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. The program features Franck’s stunning sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major, alongside evocative newer works by Alex Turley.
