Support the Richard Pollett Memorial Award

As Richard was a violinist of extraordinary musical depth, the Pollett family in association with the Australian Youth Orchestra established the annual Award to provide support and encouragement to young violinists who display outstanding personal and musical qualities.

Glenn Christensen first auditioned for Australian Youth Orchestra in 2004 and since that time has participated in all programs in the AYO pathway and this year was invited to be Concertmaster. In June 2012 Christensen was appointed Principal First Violin with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Here AYO Marketing and Communications Manager Sarah Gilchrist discovers how AYO has helped Glenn prepare for his career.

You have recently been awarded the position of Principal First Violin with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, how has participating in AYO programs helped you in your career pathway?

I’d have to say that AYO has definitely been one of the most important experiences in my musical education. I’ve learnt so much about not only orchestral playing, chamber music, leading, music history and traditions, but also social skills and general life skills that have definitely shaped me as a person and had a huge impact on my career development.

What are the three best things about being part of AYO?

The people you meet and friendships you make, the intense passion of the music-making, the laughs!

You’ve almost made the record for the most number of AYO programs attended – after completing so many programs with us – what’s been a highlight for you?

My first program was in 2004, and probably the biggest highlight since then was playing at the BBC Proms in 2010, and a close second was performing Beethoven 9 in Adelaide – so exhilarating!

What would you say to someone just starting out with AYO?

To any people new to AYO – the more you give, the more you receive! Give everything your all, and the experiences and knowledge you will gain will put you in great stead for life. And do as many National Music Camps as you can – it’s the BEST!

How long were you a member of AYO? What are some of the programs you took part in?

I attended my first music camp in 2004 and I can vividly remember our first rehearsal of Romeo & Juliet by Prokofiev. The extremes of dynamic were absolutely electrifying! Since then I have been on other music camps, toured internationally with the orchestra in 2007, attended numerous Style Workshops and Chamber Music Camps, and was lucky enough to be Concertmaster of the orchestra in 2011.

Tell us about some specific highlights? 

Performing with Jean-Yves Thibaudet in the south of France in a wonderful outdoor space after a delicious pre-concert meal is definitely one of my fondest memories! Being mentored by members of the Takacs Quartet at the 2011 Chamber Music Camp (when AYO combined with the Musica Viva Festival) was another highlight.

Where has your music career taken you since AYO? Tell us about where you are, what you’re doing, and what the future holds.

Since my time in AYO I have largely been freelancing, which has taken me to the most diverse places! In the past year I’ve been to Denmark, Canada, America, Hong Kong, Scotland, England, and Slovenia, not to mention the numerous Australian cities and towns. Travel can be exhausting but I couldn’t ask for a more exciting and rewarding life. 

What does winning the 2013 Richard Pollett Memorial Award mean to you, as a young musician?

It really opens up my options. It’s often difficult to say no to paid work in order to travel or study, but this award gives me the freedom to do so. I’m planning to live in The Hague in Holland for a while, predominantly having lessons with Henk Guittart who I met in Banff earlier this year. I’ll also be travelling to meet other teachers and perform in concerts with some of the musicians I recently met at the Thy Chamber Music Festival (Denmark).

Rollin Zhao has been named the 2015 recipient of the Richard Pollett Award. The Victorian violinist has participated in a range of AYO programs since 2012, including the 2013 International Tour. This year, Rollin is participating in AYO National Music Camp, AYO February Season, and the AYO International Tour. Rollin took some time to tell us about his experience with the AYO so far, and where he hopes to take his music over the coming years.

I joined AYO in 2012. I did my first camp that January and my last this January. In this time, I’ve also been privileged to have taken part in the AYO Seasons, the 2013 International Tour, Chamber Players and the MSO Fellowship. Many of these programs were very special experiences for me.

The AYO is a fantastic opportunity to simply make music, which in itself is an incredibly worthwhile and, in many ways, a life changing experience. It is said that music is a medium to experience and express that which cannot otherwise be experienced or expressed in any other way. As a person who has struggled a lot socially in the past, music has very much given me a voice, and in the case of the AYO, it has made me realise how social the process of music making is. Playing in the AYO has given me the chance to let go and experience the delight of ensemble music. Participating in the wonderful exchange that brings this kind of music alive is a real privilege that I will continue to seek and cherish for the rest of my life.

I am deeply honoured and humbled to be recipient of this award in memory Richard Pollett. We have all been touched by his music and deeply affected by the tragedy of his passing. Already I feel that my outlook on music has changed from something that I just happen to like a lot, to something of deep human significance. The fact that we continue remember and celebrate the life of Richard through music is a testament to the power of this mysterious thing we happen to do, and keep doing.

In the next few years I intend to undertake postgraduate music study overseas in Europe. Spending time there will be a great opportunity to get immersed in the deep cultural background and musical environment there.

In 2016, I will be travelling to Europe to visit a couple of music institutions and get to know some of the teachers there. I have found the prospect of travelling overseas alone to be quite daunting, but I feel more committed than ever before to take music as seriously as I can, and make the most of my years of study. The Richard Pollett Memorial Award has not only helped me to support my goals financially, but has also been a great encouragement for me to pursue this great privilege of music. I am incredibly grateful to be a recipient of this award.

The 2016 recipient, Kyla Matsuura-Miller, was presented with the award at AYO’s 60^th Anniversary Concert at the Sydney Town Hall. Receiving the award at such a significant occasion made it all the more memorable for Kyla, who took some time out to tell us about the experience.

So Kyla, how did it feel to be up on stage accepting the Richard Pollett award at the Sydney Town Hall?

Receiving the Richard Pollett award at AYO’s anniversary celebration was a positive and affirming experience. Apart from the rather ironic nerves of public speaking (which I’m sure many of my colleagues can relate to!) I was on a total high from the passionate and mature music making that had happened just moments previously. As a musician who is constantly on the move and creating music, it was a true privilege and pleasure to sit back and just enjoy.

You’ve been a part of the AYO community for some years now. Would you mind telling us a bit about your journey as a musician throughout this time?

I am forever indebted to AYO. It has had a direct and very clear influence on my journey, not only in my professional life but my personal life also. Through making music with my colleagues, I have learnt about the importance of communication, trust and leadership.                                                   

What does winning the Richard Pollett award mean to you?

Despite not knowing Richard, the effect of losing him was felt strongly within the community. It is a testimony to his warmth and humanity that this award has been put in place to encourage other young Australian violinists.

What can we expect to see from you in the near future?

At this point, I hope to use this generous award to assist me in further study overseas. This year I am excited to work in collaboration with the ACO in their Emerging Artists program and am very much looking forward to sharing music across rural Australia. I am also passionate about mental health awareness in the classical music community and am looking to advocate for more discussion to take place amongst my colleagues and society in general.

What does winning the Richard Pollett Memorial Award mean to you as a young violinist?

Receiving the Richard Pollett Memorial Award is an incredibly meaningful honour as a violinist. It encourages me to stay committed to my craft and reminds me of the importance of learning and growth. I hope to honour the legacy of this award by continuing to strive for excellence and supporting others in their musical pursuits. This award will significantly assist my future studies overseas and I am grateful to be receiving this award from Patricia and Philip Pollett. 

What have been some highlights of your time with AYO?

Some extraordinary moments from my time with AYO include serving as concertmaster for this year’s Autumn and Winter Seasons under Alexandre Bloch and Nicholas Carter, two world-class and exceptional conductors. Another standout moment was performing Strauss’s “Alpine Symphony” with Sir Mark Elder, where I felt truly immersed in the majestic sounds inspired by the beauty of the Alps. However, the most special highlight will always be the 2020 National Music Camp (my first AYO program), where I had the incredible opportunity to play alongside Natsuko Yoshimoto, a pivotal experience that strongly persuaded my decision to pursue a career in music.

Who or what has been your biggest source of inspiration in your development as a musician?

When I think back to those who have significantly affected the direction of my musical life, I realise it wouldn’t have been possible without the huge support of my musical family and especially my Aunty, who began teaching me when I was three! Despite this, a forever standout in my development has been Michele Walsh. She guided me to discover my own sound and ignited my passion for the violin. Michele’s impact goes far beyond music; she embodies warmth and kindness, making her a role model for me. My ultimate goal is to inspire the next generation of musicians just as she did for me, helping them find their voice and passion in music.

Haneulle has been a valued member of the AYO community since attending AYO National Music Camp in 2019, and recently performed with the flagship Australian Youth Orchestra on its 2025 International Tour. A 2024 Queensland Symphony Orchestra Academist, she is currently completing her Bachelor of Music (Honours) at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, where she studies under Michele Walsh.

“I feel deeply humbled and honoured to be receiving this award this year,” said Haneulle. “It will open up so many pathways for me and help me travel overseas next year to complete my Masters, which has been a dream of mine for a very long time.

“I’m overwhelmingly grateful for Philip and Patricia’s generosity and the wonderful experience of connecting with them both. I am also so grateful to AYO. Over the past few years I’ve met some of the most beautiful people, and to be part of this community has been such a blessing.”

Haneulle’s passion for chamber music has led to collaborations with members of the Australian String Quartet, the LA Philharmonic Wind Quintet, and Ensemble Q. She represented the Queensland Conservatorium at the “Musical Chairs” Chamber Music Festival in Montreal with the Orleigh Quartet and was awarded the 2024 Basil Jones Sonata Prize. She has also performed as a soloist in the Queensland Conservatorium Concertos Festival.

AYO Artistic Director Kimbali Harding reflected on the significance of the award: “We are here to honour the extraordinary legacy of Richard – a musician whose warmth, intelligence and humility touched everyone who knew him. For more than a decade, this award has supported and recognised outstanding young musicians, each forging remarkable paths in music both here in Australia and around the world. The impact of this award is evident in the achievements of its recipients. It is through their journeys and contributions that Richard’s legacy continues to inspire.”

In presenting the award to Haneulle, Richard’s mother – Professor Patricia Pollett – said: “Phillip and I are deeply grateful to everyone for the support in honouring Richard’s legacy. It’s incredibly meaningful for us that he continues to inspire the next generation of musicians.

“When we set up this award, we took his qualities in mind – his artistic excellence, strong work ethic, generosity, kindness, and intellectual curiosity.

“Haneulle is a fabulous violinist and a strong emerging leader whose character shines just as brightly as her talents. We hope this award helps her take the next steps in her journey with confidence.”

AYO congratulates Haneulle Lovell on this well-deserved recognition and looks forward to seeing her continued growth and success.

A 2024 graduate and former Head Prefect of Meriden School in Strathfield, NSW, Teresa has just completed her first year of her Bachelor of Music at the world-renowned Juilliard School in New York, where she is studying on a full-tuition scholarship with Catherine Cho.

Teresa has been performing with AYO since 2022, was AYO Chamber Orchestra’s Concertmaster during the 2024 National Music Camp and last year travelled on tour with the flagship Australian Youth Orchestra performing under the baton of David Robertson in venues across Europe, including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Musikverein in Vienna.

More recently, Teresa was one of 19 young violinists selected globally to be part of this year’s intensive eight-week Taos Chamber Music Festival summer school in New Mexico. Every year since 1963, nineteen elite young artists from around the world are invited to Taos to study chamber music with famed string quartets and Taos School of Music alumni can be found in major orchestras and preeminent chamber music ensembles throughout the world.

“It means the world to me to have received the Richard Pollett Memorial Award as the award not only acknowledges the recipient’s level of violin-playing but equally, if not more so, takes into consideration the qualities of the person, which I value deeply,” said Teresa.

“I am so grateful for the support that it brings me, as I know the great sacrifices that my family makes to financially support me, especially in my current study at the Juilliard School in New York.”

Teresa said I feel incredibly honoured to have been given this opportunity to honour Richard Pollett. “When I first found out what the Richard Pollett Memorial Award was a few years ago, I was very moved by the way that Patricia and Philip Pollett responded to the terrible tragedy in their lives through such a generous and positive contribution to the world.

“When I received the news that I was selected for the award this year, I was told that “there are no caveats or conditions attached to this award, it is simply a gift that we hope will make your future endeavours that little bit easier to attain”, which is so beautiful. I feel humbled to be the recipient of such kindness in the world and will do my best to carry forward Richard’s legacy.”

Reflecting on her first year at Julliard, Teresa said the past 12 months have been full of diverse experiences and learning. She plans to use the prize money to help support her while living and studying in New York.

“Despite having a full-tuition scholarship, living in New York is expensive. The prize money will also be more than sufficient to allow me to travel between Australia and the US for school, festivals and other opportunities worry-free, helping me to maintain a connection with my homeland while studying abroad.”