2015 ANNUAL REPORT Principal Sponsor & Digital Partner Australian Youth Orchestra Annual Report 2015 Contents About AYO 3 Vision and Mission 3 From the Chair 4 From the CEO 5 Board of Directors 7 Committees 8 Organisation 9 Supporters and Donors 11 2015 AYO Program Summary 15 2015 Participant Summary 16 National Auditions for 2016 Programs 17 Scholarships and Awards 19 2015 AYO Program Details and Participants 21 Financial Report 44 2 About AYO The Australian Youth Orchestra presents ten tailored training and performance programs each year for aspiring musicians, composers, arts administrators and music journalists aged 12 to 30. Our training pathway has been created to nurture the musical development of Australia’s finest young instrumentalists across metropolitan and regional Australia: from the emerging, gifted school-aged student, to those on the verge of a professional career. Vision and Mission Our vision That all young Australians are empowered with musical knowledge, imagination and a love of music. Our mission To provide professional leadership and inspiration to talented young Australian musicians, enabling them to expand and extend their classical music education training and experience, through national and international programs and performance of the highest standards. 3 From the Chair The Australian Youth Orchestra is now in its 68th gratitude to our Principal Sponsor and Digital Partner year and remains one of the world’s most prestigious for their continued support, enabling AYO to remain at training grounds for young pre-professional, classical the forefront of digital technology which connects our musicians. AYO’s unique program of orchestral musicians to members of the global community. opportunities continues to be celebrated for providing I would also like to acknowledge our appreciation for transformative experiences to gifted, emerging the vital support of the Australian Government for musicians from metropolitan and regional Australia. AYO’s training pathway including the newly The admired reputation of AYO continues to attract established National Music Teacher Mentoring leading international musicians to mentor and inspire Program. The support of AYO’s loyal donors, our young instrumentalists both in Australia and sponsors and foundations is invaluable in sustaining overseas. Following on from two previous highly the quality and scope of our programs and enables successful opera partnerships AYO was honoured to talented young musicians to participate regardless of partner with the Victorian Opera in 2015 for a their financial circumstance. production of Richard Wagner’s earliest I am tremendously proud of AYO’s dedicated masterpiece, The Flying Dutchman. management team and members of staff, who under In July we were delighted to see the return of Sir the leadership of Colin Cornish are committed to Mark Elder, this time leading the orchestra in developing the next generation of musicians. To them, Melbourne and Sydney with two stunning I offer my congratulations and warmest thanks. Also performances of Mahler’s epic Symphony No.6. to my fellow board of directors, I express my sincere appreciation for their contribution and support of this Another highlight of 2015 was joining the Australian superb and vital organisation. Special tribute must World Orchestra on stage at the Sydney Opera House also go to our former Treasurer, Ron Ogden who with internationally acclaimed conductor, Sir Simon retired from the Board in 2015 after 9 years of Rattle. With more than 90% of the AWO former dedicated service. members of the AYO, this partnership continues to tell a powerful story of the quality of Australian orchestral Mary Vallentine AO musicians. Chairman This year we proudly showcased our newest initiative, Momentum Ensemble, with concerts and events across four states, contributing to AYO’s commitment to continually innovate and diversify the opportunities offered to our participants. Our invaluable partnership with Accenture was renewed again in 2015 and I offer my deepest 4 From the CEO Mairi Nicholson and an informative workshop on In 2015 approximately 400 of the country’s best career choices with a distinguished panel including young musicians participated in twelve training Sir Mark Elder, Mary Vallentine, and AYO alumni Ben programs held in metropolitan and regional centres in Rimmer, Brett Kelly and Guy Noble. all states and territories of Australia. Through a broad range of workshops and masterclasses AYO reached Our ongoing partnerships with the Melbourne more than 3,000 individuals in schools, community Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony centres, homes, and online. Orchestra and Musica Viva resulted in many opportunities for musicians on the verge of a To identify the most talented young musicians from professional career to work alongside great chamber across the whole of Australia, auditions for our 2015 musicians, ensembles and members of Australia’s programs were once again held Australia-wide, leading orchestras. reaching all capital cities and major regional centres. In order to enhance the musicians’ preparations for A highlight of 2015 was the joint performance by their participation in AYO programs a series of online members of the AYO and the Australian World tutorials were created for AYO auditions, AYO July Orchestra conducted by Sir Simon Rattle at the Season, and AYO Young Symphonists. These were Sydney Opera House. This performance was part of a made available to all participants of these programs week-long collaboration during which members of the and are now available for future applicants and AYO participated in masterclasses given by leading participants. orchestral players (most of whom are AYO alumni) and observed rehearsals and performances given by AYO National Music Camp 2015 was held at the the AWO. University of Adelaide under the Musical Direction of James Judd. James was joined by the inspirational For younger musicians, the 2015 AYO Young British conductor Douglas Boyd and chamber Symphonists program was held in Toowoomba, QLD orchestra director Wilma Smith. The program for under the direction of conductor Warwick Stengards. Camp covered a vast repertoire and explored topics In conjunction with the orchestral repertoire, relevant to the players, composers, administrators, participants also had the opportunity to work on both and producers of today. The development of a career ensemble (brass, percussion) and chamber music. All as a performer and teacher was a significant focus of participants performed in at least one of two in-house this camp, with tutors and conductors providing great chamber music concerts, while the orchestral insights in regular interviews hosted by ABC Classic repertoire was performed in front of a full house at FM’s Julian Day. the historic Empire Theatre. The AYO July Season saw the return of Sir Mark In October AYO held a series of launch events in Elder following his hugely successful tour with the Sydney, Perth and Melbourne to present the newest AYO in 2010. The AYO gave two memorable addition to the AYO Pathway, Momentum Ensemble. performances of Mahler’s Symphony No.6 in This new program was designed to showcase a much Melbourne and Sydney. In between rehearsals the broader range of styles than one would hear in any members of the AYO participated in professional other AYO concert. With terrific graphic animations development sessions including media training with enhancing the experience and placing the new identity 5 at the centre of every space, Momentum Ensemble were amongst those enabling the delivery of our achieved the goal of creating a unique voice in the training. busy performance and artist development landscape. This set of concerts and programs was challenging We also secured our new premises in Sydney in late for our staff as boundaries and traditions were 2015 and this office provides significantly enhanced broken, but I congratulate everyone, including our facilities for our staff and visitors. I am grateful to JLL partner Landor and Associates on a fantastic team Australia for their generous support in providing effort in launching the new brand. advice and guidance during the search and negotiation process. The National Music Teacher Mentoring Program developed rapidly during 2015 to cover activity in Finally, it would be impossible to bring off such an schools in VIC, NSW, WA, SA and now in NT. This ambitious program of activities without the alignment program is addressing a critical shortage of music of the following critical elements: teachers in schools, an issue if not addressed will have a major impact on the AYO orchestral programs • the financial support of the Australian in decades to come. My thanks to Richard Gill OAM Government; our Principal Sponsor and the founder of this initiative, for his generous Digital Partner Accenture, and other leadership and support of this program. corporate partners; Major Programs Partner, Colonial Foundation and other AYO was proud to present a number of awards to our philanthropic supporters; and hundreds of talented musicians this year. Congratulations must go generous individuals who donate funds to to bassoonist Jenna Schijf, the 2015 recipient of the AYO each year; Accenture Scholarship Award. Congratulations also to violinist Rollin Zhao, who was this year’s recipient • the support and counsel of the AYO Board, of the Richard Pollett Memorial Award. led by Chairman, Mary Vallentine AO; We are grateful to the many organisations that • the dedication, professionalism