On two balmy Australian November evenings – first at ACO on the Pier in Sydney and then at UKARIA Cultural Centre in South Australia’s Mount Barker – the Australian Youth Orchestra’s Momentum Ensemble transported audiences across landscapes and cultures.
Under the direction of Timo-Veikko “Tipi” Valve, Principal Cellist of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the program Between Worlds was a celebration of connection: between Finland and Australia, tradition and innovation, and generations of musicians.
“We’re going to be teleporting people into this vast, snowy, empty Finnish landscape through the music of Jean Sibelius, and then just a few seconds afterwards, will drop them into the middle of the Australian desert, through the sparse music of Peter Sculthorpe,” said Tipi ahead of the concerts.
The performances marked the culmination of the AYO Momentum Leaders project, a week-long residency where 16 of Australia’s finest emerging string players worked intensively with Tipi.
Momentum Ensemble is AYO’s platform for musicians on the cusp of their professional careers, designed to empower them as performers, educators, and creative leaders. It’s a space for collaboration, experimentation, and artistic growth – qualities that resonated throughout the performances.
The repertoire reflected Tipi’s own journey, weaving together works that evoke the stark beauty of Nordic winters and the vibrant openness of Australian musical life:
- Olivia Bettina Davies – Crystalline
- Schubert (arr. Valve) – Arpeggione Sonata, D.821
- Jaakko Kuusisto – Wiima, Op. 27
- Sibelius (arr. Valve) – Voces intimae, Op. 56
- Interspersed with selections from Sculthorpe – String Quartet No. 8
Davies’ Crystalline opened with iridescent textures inspired by crystal formations. Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata, arranged by Tipi, allowed the cello to sing with lyrical intimacy. The work was originally written for the arpeggione – a now-rare instrument best described as a mini cello with six strings.
Kuusisto’s Wiima – named for the biting Finnish winter breeze – transported listeners to a frozen landscape. Sibelius’ Voces intimae brought the evening to a profound close, its title “Intimate Voices” resonating with the ensemble’s collaborative spirit.
For Tipi, the program was about more than repertoire – it was about creating new ways of listening: “I wanted to introduce pieces that really capture the Finnish landscape and mentality, and offer the Australian audience a slight window into my world in Finland,” he said.
He also spoke of Australia’s influence on his artistry:“Australia has always provided a musical society that is very accepting and open-minded. It frees the musician to imagine what they want to be.”
AYO Momentum violinist Julia Hill and AYO Media and Communication Fellow, reflected on the experience:
“I really love the repertoire. We have music from Finland and Australia, and it gives us an insight into Tipi’s world. My favourite piece is definitely Wiima. It’s edgy, and you can almost feel the shards of ice hitting your face as you play it, which is very contrasting to the weather outside.”
Julia Hill
Performing without a conductor demanded intense focus and communication. Cellist Francesca Masel shared: “I really love chamber music and especially the ensemble being ‘unconducted’ has been amazing because you really need to be aware of all the parts around you and just be so focused and on the ball.”
For violinist Lily Song, the week was a deep dive into musical ideas: “Tipi talks so much about phrasing. My favourite piece is Wiima – it’s fun, energetic, and feels like we can dance to it.”
Audience members were equally captivated. UKARIA Cultural Centre’s Senior Communications Coordinator, and AYO Media and Communication alumna, Tahlia Lamey said the concert was the perfect finale to UKARIA’s 2025 concert season.
“As an AYO alumna myself, it was a joy to witness colleagues from around Australia and the world unite in Momentum Ensemble’s rousing performance at UKARIA. The program of chamber music, inspired by the landscapes of Finland and Australia, highlighted the rapport that had clearly developed between the players during their week of preparation, and showcased their dynamic musicianship.
“The audience was collectively uplifted by the energy and zeal of the musicians on stage as they heralded the bright future of classical music!”
Tahlia Lamey
Another audience member commented: “The Schubert was amazing. Tipi was incredible—the tone was so warm and resonant. The concert felt like being surrounded by sound.”
“There were a lot of virtuosic passages and the tone was really nice in the higher registers. My little brother plays the cello and I didn’t know a cello could sound that good,” said a fellow audience member.
“Tipi changed up the tone a lot throughout the piece depending on the movement – sometimes airy and delicate, sometimes full and resonant. It just felt very warm to me. The concert felt like I was being surrounded by sound.”
Audience member
Between Worlds was not just a concert – it was a celebration of artistic exchange, of young musicians stepping into leadership, and of music’s power to bridge cultures.
The AYO Momentum Ensemble musicians were:
Violin 1
Leanne McGowan
Emily Su
Beverly Kwan
Lily Song
Elliott Plumpton
Violin 2
Julia Hill
Adrian Biemmi
Sola Hughes
Nicholas Miceli
Jessica Li
Viola
May Bardsley
Benjamin Tao
Sterling Rieck
Cello
Daniel Chiou
Francesca Masel
