The AWO thanks our generous partner, Arab Bank Australia Limited (ABAL), in partnering with us for our Academy Programs since 2019.
Each year, exceptionally talented emerging musician(s) are chosen to rehearse and perform with the AWO as part of our concert season. The opportunity includes invaluable one-on-one mentoring as well as the chance to travel with the orchestra as part of our national and international tours.
Participating in the AWO Academy Program also allows pre-professional Australian musicians to connect and build valuable relationships with our experienced players, many of whom are members of some of the world’s greatest orchestras. Through nurturing and developing beneficial professional connections, the AWO Academy Program is creating and supporting an international network of Australian musicians, offering emerging players the chance to make crucial contacts at all levels.
The opportunities provided by the AWO Academy Program continue well beyond an initial season. Our Academy Players are regularly invited to return and perform with the AWO in a professional capacity, assisting them in the development of musical skills and providing an important springboard from which to launch local and international careers.
AWO Academy Scholarship (in development):
Future plans include the development of an AWO Academy Scholarship to provide these pre-professional musicians with much-needed funds to travel and study, either interstate or overseas, in order to gain specialised experience and further their musical education.
“Playing with the Australian World Orchestra (AWO) was a unique and inspiring opportunity. The orchestra plays with extreme technical proficiency and profoundly nuanced musicality. To play with the AWO is an experience I will look back on fondly for the rest of my life. “
Che Ioannou-Booth, AWO Academy Player 2022
AWO ACADEMY PLAYERS
2023
Sara Barbagallo, violin – Concertmaster – The University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra; Australian Youth Orchestra; Former Emerging Artist – Mimir Chamber Music Festival 2022
2022
Emily Beauchamp, violin – Australian National Academy of Music; Australian Youth Orchestra
Che Ioannou-Booth, double bass – Melbourne Conservatorium of Music
2022 (UK Tour)
Jason Henery, double bass – formerly Australian Youth Orchestra
2021
Marcus Michelsen, violin – Australian Youth Orchestra
2019
Sergio Insuasti, viola – Freelance; Former Principal Viola – Sydney Youth Orchestra
Emily Newham, horn – Tarsus Chamber Collective; Former Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellowship
2018
Molly Collier-O’Boyle, viola – Acting Assistant Principal Viola, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
2018 (India Tour)
Sagar Nagaraj, violin – Rosemont Strings; Willoughby Symphony Orchestra; AWO Academy Quartet
2017
Education collaboration with ANAM, all participating students experienced the AWO’s Academy program.
2016
Ben Messenger, horn – Momentum Ensemble, former Melbourne Ring Orchestra
Jenna Smith, trumpet – West Australian Symphony Orchestra; Former Principal Trumpet – Australian Youth Orchestra; Former Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellowship
2016 (Singapore Tour)
Jonathan Békés, cello – Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra; returned 2017, 2018 (India) & 2019
2015
Melina van Leeuwen, harp – Chrysalis Trio, Freelance; returned 2019 & 2022
2015 (India Tour)
Samuel Payne, cello – Canberra Symphony Orchestra, Australia Youth Orchestra
2013
Katie Yap, viola – Chrysalis Trio; returned 2015 (Australia and India), 2016 (Australia and Singapore), 2017 & 2018 (Australia and India), 2021
2011
Sophia Ang, percussion – Taikoz; Moorambilla Voices 2018
Matthew Laing, viola – Freelance player and composer
Liisa Palandi, violin – Australian Chamber Orchestra
Adam Szabo, cello – Manchester Collective; formerly Melbourne Ring Orchestra, BBC and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras; returned 2016