CONTENT COURTESY AYO
Applications are now open. Key dates snapshot:
- 3 August 2026 Registrations close (all programs)
- 11 August 2026 String auditions due
- 13 August 2026 All other auditions/portfolio submissions due
Are you an emerging musician or arts administrator aged 12 to 30 ready to shape your future in music? The Australian Youth Orchestra is inviting Australia’s most exceptional young instrumentalists and emerging arts leaders to step onto world-class stages – from Singapore to Sydney – with applications for AYO’s 2027 orchestral and non-orchestral programs opening 1 June 2026.
AYO nurtures gifted young musicians from school age through to pre-professional artists pursuing diverse careers across the music sector. In 2027, your journey could take you to stages in Singapore, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane or Adelaide, performing iconic works including Mahler 1 and Schumann’s Cello Concerto.
At AYO, talent is the only requirement. AYO’s generous scholarship program helps cover program fees and travel costs, and First Nations applicants receive a full waiver of the application fee. And from 1 June, audition excerpts can be downloaded free from the AYO website – removing barriers and opening doors to more young musicians than ever before.
This is your chance to join a talented community driven by ambition and a love for music. Learn from internationally renowned conductors and professional musicians. Perform at the highest level, form lifelong friendships and build networks that shape your future in music.
What’s new for 2027?
In March, a selected cohort of Australia’s leading school-aged musicians will travel with AYO Symphonists to Singapore – launching a bold new international partnership and collaboration with the Singapore National Youth Orchestra and NZSO National Youth Orchestra.
Under the baton of German conductor Christoph Altstaedt, musicians will immerse themselves in an intensive, week-long residential program culminating in a landmark concert in Singapore.
“This program invites young musicians to imagine themselves as part of an international musical community,” said AYO CEO Kimbali Harding.
“Through our 2027 collaboration with Singapore Youth Orchestra and the NZ National Youth Orchestra, they’ll be rehearsing, learning and performing side by side with peers from another country — sharing ideas, expectations and ways of working.”
Kimbali said that for many participants, the experience comes at a pivotal moment. “Encountering a different orchestral culture at this stage helps our Symphonists expand their perspective on what a musical life can look like, while deepening the skills and musical curiosity they’ve already developed through their youth orchestra experiences in Australia.”
“This program is about opening horizons for young Australian musicians – artistically, professionally and imaginatively.”
National Music Camp returns
For 78 years, National Music Camp in Adelaide has been a defining rite of passage for Australia’s young musicians — intense, transformative and unforgettable. In 2027, Lachlan Bramble (Adelaide Symphony Orchestra) steps in as Creative Director, curating a program that challenges, inspires and stretches musicians to new heights.
Participants will also work with internationally acclaimed conductors including Finnish star Emilia Hoving (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), French maestro Alexandre Bloch, and Aiko Goto of the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
AYO Flagship Orchestra
Bringing together the finest musicians under 25 from around Australia, the AYO flagship orchestra performs two seasons each year. In 2027 the Australian Youth Orchestra – AYO’s flagship ensemble – takes the stage in Sydney and Brisbane led by Italian cellist and QSO Chief Conductor, Umberto Clerici, and New Zealand conductor, Tianyi Lu.
Beyond the orchestra
AYO’s vision extends beyond performance. Alongside its orchestral programs, AYO offers pathways for aspiring composers, arts administrators, sound engineers and music journalists aged up to 30. Programs include Media and Communication, Orchestral Management, Sound Production and Composition, supporting the next generation of music leaders across the industry.
How to apply
• Applications open. Head to www.ayo.com.au/join-ayo for details on how to apply and to download excerpts.
• For more information on all AYO Programs visit www.ayo.com.au, phone 1300 668 500 or email info@ayo.com.au
Images supplied.
Have your say.