Shefali Pryor’s career has spanned global stages, and her exceptional artistry has won her accolades and a leadership role in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s Vanguard program. As both a performer and director, she brings a keen sense of how music can transcend entertainment to connect with the springs of humanity, echoing ANAM’s mission for 2025 to tune in to the world around us.

Leoš Janáček composed Mladi (Youth) for Wind Sextet in 1924, reflecting on his early years as a student in Brno. Written for his 70th birthday, it evokes both the joy and challenges of his youth. In contrast to Janáček’s reflection on youth in Mladi, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Serenade in C Minor, K. 388 stands apart for its emotional depth and personal character. Unlike the typical serenades of the time, which were often light and intended as background music, Mozart’s only serenade in a minor key evokes a more profound emotional response, placing the music itself in the foreground. This shift in focus marked a transformative moment in the way music was perceived during Mozart’s time.