The Australian Youth Orchestra’s (AYO) Momentum Ensemble will collaborate with renowned international musicians and AYO alumni Belinda MacFarlane and Oliver Shermacher (originally from Port Macquarie) in low SES and special needs schools from Sydney and Port Macquarie.
This project aims to introduce music to children who may not typically have access to world-class musicians, including students with disabilities and special needs. The core objective of this transformative project is to unlock meaningful connections and self-expression in young people through the power of music.
The musicians of the AYO Momentum Ensemble, themselves on the cusp of professional careers, will have ‘on the job’ training in how to actively involve students in exploring and interpreting a piece of music. Described by the composer himself as “ordinary music”, Aaron Copland’s moving and familiar Appalachian Spring has been selected for its diverse range of moods, dance-ability, and capacity to be simplified and adapted to suit classroom instruments.
This collaborative project will unfold in five schools across Sydney and Port Macquarie, engaging over 100 children from primary to early high school years. AYO’s Momentum Ensemble will work with students from metropolitan and regional schools, addressing Curriculum Key Learning Areas, instrumental skills and learning support needs. Empowering these young musicians with skills to create a positive impact in diverse community settings for years to come.
Oliver Shermacher, who attended Port Macquarie Primary School and who also maintains a close connection with his local clarinet teacher, described this project as – “the most rewarding thing you can do with music”.
This program will culminate in a performance at The Glasshouse in Port Macquarie on Friday, 16 February, at 11:30 am, featuring the AYO Momentum Ensemble and local school children. Building on the success of previous projects, such as those with Peninsula Specialist School in Victoria and in South Australia, AYO aspires not only to foster skills in a new generation of pre-professional musicians but also to establish enduring connections and shared experiences among children from diverse backgrounds and learning needs.
Performance: Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland.
Friday 16 February, 11.30am.
Glasshouse Port Macquarie.
Free entry, booking required here
About Australian Youth Orchestra:
Since 1948, the Australian Youth Orchestra’s mission has been to provide Australia’s most talented young musicians with the connections, development, and professional pathways to reach their full potential. The programs within the AYO training pathway are tailored to instrumentalists at various stages of their education: from the gifted school-aged student to those on the verge of a professional career. In addition to the renowned performance-based programs, AYO also offers specialised courses for composers, arts administrators, and music journalists.
