My first week at National Music Camp by Sarah Huang

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Written by 2026 Media and Communication Participant, Sarah Huang

If there was a phrase to sum up the first week at National Music Camp, it would be “Where did I put my sunscreen?”. (A phrase that I’m sure my flatmates Amanda and Izzy often here me say). I am absolutely convinced that the participants of this year’s AYO National Music Camp have single-handedly doubled the sales of sunscreen at Adelaide’s Rundle Mall.

The first week of NMC featured a heatwave that reached an astronomical 43 degrees. NMC-ers have resorted to a number of unique ways to keep cool, including but not limited to: Zooper Doopers treks, dipping into the fountain at St Marks, and freezing bags of water for DIY air conditioning.  

The first agenda included finding and moving into our new rooms. The syncopated thunk of heavy instruments and luggage being dragged up the stairs soundtracked the afternoon as we unpacked and napped after our early morning flights. Too excited to sleep, the other Perthites and I visit the botanical gardens, before our first meeting.

Perthites Monica Rallabhandi (Violin), Bridget Hutchinson (Media and Communications) and Otto Gibbs (Composition) at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.

After the brief walk to the Botanic Gardens, it was time to get to work. The participants and orchestral members arrived at their first briefings, cases in tow for their first rehearsal. The chatter of meeting familiar faces and meeting of new ones kept us in good spirits despite the heat, as at camp, you are among likeminded people who are only an introduction away.

But enough from me here’s what out participants have to say: