Australian Youth Orchestra jets to Europe while wearing homeland on their sleeves

The Australian Youth Orchestra’s international touring is resuming after a six-year break when the ensemble leaves to play, dressed by Indigenous artists, for European audiences.

Australian Youth Orchestra musicians, from left, Beverly Kwan, Isabella Thomas, Miriam Cooney, Robert Smith, Ami Humphreys and Teresa Yang at the Sydney Opera House ahead of their European tour. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams

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The Australian Youth Orchestra’s international tour schedule will soon resume when a cohort of 92 musician leaves our shores on Sunday to play for European audiences.

After a six-year break, owing to a pandemic pause, it will mark the 24th overseas tour for the ­acclaimed training organisation, which has seen more than 12,000 musicians play their parts since it was founded in 1948.

This time, in addition to flying the flag for Australian musicians, the performers will be sporting Australian art via stage outfits made by Ikuntji Artists, the first art centre established for women of the Western Desert art movement that emerged near Papunya in the Northern Territory.

“We are proud to showcase the work of these exceptional First Nations artists on the world stage,” said the orchestra’s chief executive Kimbali Harding.

“The beautiful designs, together with the power and energy of the orchestra, encapsulate the vibrancy and creativity of Australia. We are incredibly proud to present the orchestra in this way.”

Australian Youth Orchestra musicians Beverly Kwan (left) and Robert Smith, at the Sydney Opera House. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams

Naturally enough for such a young ensemble – which is composed of musicians aged between 16 and 26 – the forthcoming six-city tour will present plenty of firsts, not least for concertmaster and violinist Robert Smith, who joined the orchestra at 16.

“From around the age of 12, I thought to myself, ‘OK, what am I going to do with my life?’ And I just thought, ‘Well, has to be violin’,” he said.

“AYO is so youthful and energetic; it really inspires people to perform to their best and learn about orchestral performance and chamber music,” he said. “I’ve always loved playing in orchestras, so it was a pretty clear thing for me to aim for that – and somehow, it’s somewhat worked out.”

Smith may be underselling himself there: having now notched up six stints with the AYO, the European trip will also mark a special occasion worth celebrating.

“I’m turning 23 in Vienna, on our second concert of the tour,” he said, smiling. “So that’s very special: my first summer birthday.”

After giving performances to audiences in Germany, Austria and The Netherlands, the AYO will on July 31 return to its home turf for a Sydney Opera House performance named Homecoming: Colour, Sound, Lore.

Conducted by David Robertson, the concert will also include two remarkable soloists: didgeridoo maestro William Barton, performing Peter Sculthorpe’s Earth Cry, and teenage violinist Christian Li, performing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto.

From one violinist to another, Smith speaks in glowing terms of Li, with whom he recently performed while he was on trial as a violinist in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

“He’s absolutely brilliant,” said Smith. “He’s a 17-year-old playing a different concerto every couple of weeks to thousands of people, and pulling it off extremely well. You can’t fault him; there are no flaws to pick at.”