John Daley

Answer Being interested in music can be isolating when you’re young. At music camp, for the first time, I was in a universe where everyone else was serious about music too. Christopher Hogwood, one of the best classical period conductors in the world, taught us for a fortnight to play Haydn and Mozart – that doesn’t happen every day of the week. <br> <br> I was impressed by Christopher Hogwood’s strategic approach to interpretation. He explored how academic knowledge can inform an emotional technique. For example, he talked about an effect Haydn might have been trying to achieve – and how could we make this effect resonate with a modern audience? Policy-making requires a similar approach; I’m always asking how academic literature can translate into practical policy outcomes.

Answer AYO instilled in me that training the next generation is an important part of one’s job, in any profession. Our tutors were clearly leading professional musicians, and yet they gave up two weeks a year to train young people. They also communicated their enthusiasm to others, and this has been another life-long lesson: whether it’s music or policy-making, it’s so valuable to convey why something is exciting and why <i>someone else</i> should be excited.

Answer Australia is lucky to have an institution that contributes so much to training so many musicians to their next level of development. I developed a passion for music I’ll never lose – reason enough for AYO to flourish!