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This October, the Australian Youth Orchestra presents Chamber Players in Melbourne, for a special week of music-making and learning as 18 of the country’s most promising young musicians work alongside the renowned Flinders Quartet.

Take a front-row seat and experience the wonderful world of chamber music with Australia’s rising musical stars. From wind quintets to brass ensembles and string quartets, this is your chance to get up close and personal with the instruments of the orchestra.

The selected musicians will spend the week in rehearsals and workshops with Flinders Quartet, along with brass and wind tutors Yoram Levy and Lyndon Watts. The week will culminate with two concerts on Sunday 5 October at Melbourne Recital Centre.

Guided by this distinguished team, the musicians will perform a dynamic program featuring works by three five contemporary female composers plus works by Mendelssohn, Beethoven and Ewald.

The program – which coincides with Mental Health Week – will also include a new work by Melbourne-born composer Lee Bradshaw commissioned by the Arcaro family in memory of their son, Emanuel (Manny) Arcaro. This new work, which is a powerful exploration of music as a transformative force for connection and healing, will be performed by the Flinders Quartet and AYO string players.  

Across both concerts, audiences will experience Lee Bradshaw’s evocative Four Rooms, performed by an octet chamber ensemble. While this piece provides a thematic through-line, each concert offers a unique musical journey.

The afternoon concert features a brass quintet and string quartet, with works by award-winning South Australian composer Anne Cawrse and Victoria’s Louisa Trewartha as well as works by Russian composer and civil engineer Victor Ewald and Beethoven.

In the evening the concert will showcase a wind quintet and a different string quartet, performing music by Sydney-based composers Holly Harrison and Elizabeth Younan, celebrated American composer Valerie Coleman and Felix Mendelssohn.

Together, these concerts highlight the diversity and brilliance of chamber music, offering audiences two distinct sound worlds connected by Bradshaw’s compelling composition.

The Flinders Quartet project is part of its Healing and Awakening initiative, which offers professional development in mental health awareness for all participants and exploring how music can foster open, meaningful conversations.

Tickets to both concerts will be strictly limited and go on sale on 4 September, 2pm.