1 May 2026
AYO musicians join SSO for The Planets world premiere featuring Emma Thompson
Five Australian Youth Orchestra musicians are performing alongside the Sydney Symphony Orchestra this week in the world premiere of Symphonic Cinema: The Planets – a landmark new orchestral film experience starring Oscar-winning actor Emma Thompson – at the Sydney Opera House.
Appearing as part of AYO’s Professional Immersion program, AYO musicians Emma Meixner (double bass), Hannah Kim (violin), James Monro (cello), Olivia Spyrou (viola) and Siobhan Makinson (violin) are gaining first‑hand experience of life inside a major professional orchestra through a week‑long residency with the SSO.
Set to Gustav Holst’s The Planets, the production reimagines the iconic suite through a newly created silent film synchronised live with the orchestra. Starring Thompson, the film explores themes of love and loss, unfolding alongside Holst’s music to create an immersive cinematic and symphonic event.
Left to right: Benjamin Northey (conductor), Emma Meixner, Olivia Spyrou, Hannah Kim, Siobhan Makinson and James Monro in rehearsal at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.
Queenslanders Olivia Spyrou and Emma Meixner have been enjoying Sydney’s iconic sights. “It’s been really amazing rehearsing in the Opera House all week,” Emma said. “It’s wonderful meeting and playing with the SSO bass section.”
“It’s been really fun to play in the Opera House,” said Olivia.
“Playing with the SSO is amazing. The orchestra’s been really welcoming to us. I’m really enjoying playing with professionals, playing some really challenging music.”
Olivia Spyrou
Olivia Spyrou (left) and Emma Meixner (right) in rehearsal.
Violinists Hannah Kim and Siobhan Makinson have been enjoying playing alongside the accomplished musicians of the SSO. “It’s been super inspiring I think for all of us to work alongside professional musicians”, said AYO violinist Hannah Kim. “I think it’s a really big step up in all of our careers.”
“Everyone’s super lovely”, said violinist Siobhan Makinson. “It’s great working with such incredible musicians.”
“Playing with the SSO is just incredible”, said AYO cellist James Monro.
“I’ve seen them on stage a number of times, so it’s quite surreal sitting amongst them, being on the other end of that.”
James Monro
A personal highlight of the week, James said, was getting to work with composer Nigel Westlake. “It’s so nice to be able to have the composer sitting in the audience giving us his ideas as we go”, James said. “He’s such an amazing person to work with.”
He also learnt that many of the SSO cellists are AYO alumni. “A bunch of the cellos met on AYO,” James said. “My desk partner was telling me today that she met Simon, the principal, on an AYO [program]. Everyone’s done an AYO here. So, it really is the backbone of Australian professional music.”
James Monro (centre) with SSO cello section.
Performing for schools
The AYO Professional Immersion participants also performed in SSO’s Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of the Orchestra concert on Wednesday, aimed at school aged children in Years 3-8. The experience was a highlight for the AYO musicians, who were impressed by their young audience.
“We played in a school’s concert earlier today and they were really, really enthusiastic,” said violist Olivia Spyrou. “They were clapping and like shouting. It’s really nice to play for an audience who like really shows the emotion and the excitement for what we’re doing on stage.”
Double bassist Emma Meixner and violinist Hannah Kim also enjoyed the education concert. “All the kids really enjoyed being there and it was a good energy,” said Emma. “We had our first concert today and that was a blast,” said Hannah. “That was a really cool experience.”
“The enthusiasm and the excited screaming, it was amazing”, said cellist James Monro. “I had to put my earplugs in, but it really means a lot to audiences and it’s really incredible to be on the other side of that.”
Violinists Hannah Kim (left) and Siobhan Makinson (right) in rehearsal.
About AYO Professional Immersion – Orchestral
The AYO Professional Immersion program is designed for young musicians on the cusp of professional careers. The program acts as a launchpad for those wanting to pursue performance at an elite level providing them with the skills to establish a diverse and successful career in music. The AYO is very fortunate to deliver this program in partnership with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria and Opera Australia. The AYO works with these organisations as part of the broader Australian arts ecosystem to ensure that creativity, opportunity and longevity are attainable goals for upcoming musicians.