Australian Youth Orchestra

‘It is always a privilege and pleasure to attend a concert by The Australian Youth Orchestra. The cream of Australia’s emerging orchestral talent is a joy to behold and this concert was a corker’ (Limelight Magazine, July 2011)

‘A superbly executed concert...all sections of the AYO acquitted themselves with distinction’ (The Australian, July 2011)

“For more than 50 years, the Australian Youth Orchestra has delivered some of the nation's most memorable concerts, none more so than the monumental program presented in Brisbane at the weekend... In Richard Strauss's epic An Alpine Symphony, the AYO traversed some of the most notorious pitfalls in Romantic music. This kind of music-making will live long in the memory.” (The Australian)

“A succulent refinement of tone and touch. An adult grasp of emotions and cultural worlds usually thought beyond any teenager, in any hemisphere...Elder’s firm control and understanding was vital as he steered the players through wintry desolation, acidic exuberance, love found and lost, to the finale’s Jekyll and Hyde jollity. At every stage the orchestra responded with dazzling precision, doleful colour effects and an authentic Russian chill...The orchestra was always fabulous.” (The Times, August 2010)

 “...The accompaniments from Elder and the AYO were impeccable...” (The Guardian, July 2010)

“Rarely has an orchestra received such warm applause as that which farewelled the Australian Youth Orchestra at the Festival Theatre on Saturday night. With the theatre filled to the gods, the audience showed its appreciation of these finely talented young musicians…Take a bow, AYO; this was a very impressive performance.” (The Independent Weekly, July 2009)

"The AYO is probably the best orchestra in Australia, with that extra freshness and commitment." (The Guardian, 2009)