BY CUTCOMMON
Youth orchestras are a rite of passage for musicians in Australia. They’re career-launching platforms that provide essential, real-world experiences to young artists who are working towards their life in the arts industry. Some students travel great distances to take part in their state’s biggest youth orchestra programs, with families committing to rehearsals and concerts. Now, Melbourne Youth Orchestras invite the broader community to commit to an investment in “the future of music in Victoria”, and 700 students are taking part in an enormous campaign that will help maintain these opportunities.
MYO hosts The Big Busk fundraiser at Queen Victoria Market, featuring 14 ensembles with musicians from across the states, including Sydney Youth Orchestra players travelling to get involved. The fundraising goal is $35,000, and continues beyond the concert itself. We sat down with MYO operations manager Sarah Clark (pictured below) to find out more about the campaign, and how important it is to the future generations of Australia’s classical music industry.
Sarah, tell us about the enormous logistical exercise of arranging a 700-student event! How did this all come together?
Really, it’s been just about taking everything one step at a time! We first pitched the idea to our staff in 2024, and they were immediately excited by the idea, so we knew we had their support! We then had to find a location in Melbourne where we could showcase as many students in ensembles and smaller groups as we possibly could, and the Queen Victoria Market is perfect for this.
We worked in conjunction with the market to determine the best sites for performing, and then wrote an ensemble performance schedule that would be interesting and varied for the audience, and involve as many of our students as possible. The whole idea behind the Big Busk is to get our community activated and hopefully make some new community friends too, and this is the perfect way to do it.
Possibly the most exciting part of the event was explaining to our students what busking was, and inviting them to take part. Seeing the students get excited about busking, forming their own groups and starting to rehearse has just been fantastic!
There may be 700 students who have participated, but the community impact would extend so far beyond this number. What do you think a youth orchestra means to its local community — not only as a training ground, but as a contribution to the live performance sector of its city?
It’s interesting being a staff member at MYO now after being a student many years ago, as I’m really seeing the impact that MYO has within the arts community first-hand.
So many of the musicians I performed with as an MYO student are now forging their own careers in music through teaching at schools or in communities; or performing as professionals as soloists or in orchestras, chamber groups, or bands. Many past students have also returned to MYO to conduct or tutor at our various events, bringing their skills and experience to current MYO students, who will hopefully be able to inspire the next generation in the coming years.
It’s an invaluable cycle that keeps the MYO community and the music community of Melbourne strong.
MYO is raising funds for a target of $35,000, which seems comparatively modest when considering the operating costs that must go into running the orchestras. How will this fundraiser help support the MYO’s opportunities for young musicians?
Although we’ve set a goal of $35,000, we’d be absolutely thrilled if we raised more! Our goal is to continually deliver a high-quality program with the best conductors, best tutors, best support staff, best instruments, and best performance venues as possible, and this will help us continue to deliver this for our students.
Like everyone, we’ve been affected by rising costs, and we’re fortunate to have a handful of income streams that cover most of our programs and events. But in order to keep our programs at their high standard and accessible to all, we need to bridge the gap.
How do you feel a youth orchestra fits into the overall trajectory of a student’s future career in classical music?
Youth orchestras provide a vital first step for students pursuing a career in music. Youth orchestras are where students hone their individual skills, learn ensemble etiquette, how to blend in a section and play as part of a group, critical listening skills, and how to follow and respond to directions from conductors and tutors.
These skills are crucial for students wanting to move into professional orchestral work, whether they want to be soloists or performing in a group.
How did MYO support your own career, as an alumna yourself?
I play the French Horn and grew up in Ballarat. Music was strong at my school, but being able to immerse myself in it more thoroughly by coming to MYO was absolutely life changing.
I’d never played in an orchestra until the first time I was enrolled in Summer School, and at first I had no idea what I was doing!
I then auditioned for the Percy Grainger Youth Orchestra, and played and performed with them for three years before moving on to study music at a tertiary level. These are some of my favourite performance memories, and although I decided not to pursue a career as a professional musician, I’m so happy that I can create the same experiences for students now that I enjoyed myself, and watch as they develop their own passion for music.
How important is community funding when compared to other sources such as ticket sales or government support?
Community funding is essential to MYO because it directly supports the heart of what we do, creating opportunities for over 700 young musicians each week to learn, rehearse, and perform together in a supportive, inspiring environment. Unlike ticket sales or government grants, which often cover only a portion of our expenses, community donations go straight into the programs that matter most: putting instruments into the hands of young players, enabling performances in world-class venues, and maintaining the infrastructure that allows MYO to operate week after week.
We’ve been nurturing Victoria’s young musicians for over 50 years, and many of our alumni have gone on to make their mark in Australia and internationally. But none of that happens without the support of our community. Donating to MYO is a way for people to invest in the future of music in Victoria, supporting not just the next generation of professional musicians but also fostering confidence, creativity, and collaboration in young people from all walks of life.
Events like The Big Busk give everyone a chance to experience the energy and talent of MYO musicians up close, and provide a meaningful way to support them directly. With every dollar raised going straight back to the ensembles, each donation helps ensure that MYO can continue to offer life-changing musical experiences to young people across the state.
We’re experiencing a time when there are funding challenges facing Australian universities’ arts and music programs. How do you feel about the future of MYO within this context — whether that’s as a form of continuity through which students can receive stable industry support and experience regardless of academic training, or as an organisation that also faces funding risks without support?
You’ve really hit it on the head! Students can access our program from as young as 7 years old, and progress through ensembles all the way to age 25. They can enjoy our programs alongside their primary, secondary, and tertiary music programs; as a complement to studies in other areas, or as a standalone activity. Regardless of how students choose to interact with music, MYO will provide consistent educational experiences where musicians will learn something new each time they step into the rehearsal room.
There’s no denying that the arts and music sectors are feeling the pinch at the moment, but I feel that as long as people continue to express interest in music, MYO will continue to provide outstanding education opportunities.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about the MYO fundraiser?
What’s especially exciting about this year’s MYO fundraiser is not just the scale, but the spirit of collaboration and community. Bringing together over 700 young musicians to perform in such a public and iconic space like Queen Victoria Market is a powerful way to showcase the depth of talent in Victoria. It’s more than just a fundraiser; it’s a celebration of youth, music, and the unifying power of the arts.
The expansion of The Big Busk to Melbourne also marks an important milestone, highlighting MYO’s growing role in the national musical landscape.
MYO’s Big Busk takes place from 8am-4pm, 20 September at Queen Victoria Market. Fundraising continues online.
Images supplied.
