Australian Youth Orchestra participants excel in ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year competition
Who will become the 2009 ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year? As the race tightens, twelve talented young musicians prepare to battle it out in Stage III of this year’s Awards, including four AYO Alumni!
For the past 65 years, the ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards has provided aspiring young musicians the opportunity to perform with Australia’s major orchestras in the quest to be named ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the year. The competition has been an important launch-pad for many successful music careers, unearthing talents such as Simon Tedeschi, Diana Doherty, Adele Anthony, Roger Woodward and Ian Munro.
The following four Stage III musicians are AYO Alumni and all have participated in Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO) programs within the past year: Kana Ohashi (The Australian Youth Orchestra 2008, 2009) and Katherine Lukey (AYO Chamber Music Camp 2008), clarinetist Ben Mellefont (AYO Young Symphonists 2008, 2009) and flautist Katie Zagorski (AYO Australian Youth Orchestra 2007, 2008, 2009).
“We are extremely proud to play a role in producing Australia’s finest young musicians,” said AYO Chief Executive Officer Colin Cornish.
“All four musicians are enormously gifted and it is wonderful to see their talents celebrated through such an amazing opportunity as performing with some of the best symphony orchestras in Australia.”
Stage III sees finalists compete in one of three instrumental categories to secure a $5,000 cash prize and a place in the Grand Final. This year’s finalists originate from four states and range in age from 15 to 28. The 2009 Strings finalists are also eligible to win the Nelly Apt Scholarship which offers $15,000 to provide assistance for overseas study in Israel.
Drawing comparison with popular television shows such as Australian Idol, ABC Classic FM’s presenter Damien Beaumont comments ‘It is hard not to get a sense of the excitement that these shows generate. Funny thing is that the Young Performers Awards have been doing this for years, and the excitement generated is no less palpable.’
The Grand final will be held in Adelaide on 22 October 2009 where the finalists will perform with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, conducted by James Judd. The 2009 ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year will receive a further $20,000 cash prize, a compact disc recording of their winning performance, a recital program and a concert engagement with a major Australian symphony orchestra.