The Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO) is in the Netherlands, rehearsing for its latest European tour, the first in six years. The flagship orchestra, led by David Robertson, will perform at some of Europe’s most prestigious venues later this month including Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Vienna’s Musikverein and Germany’s Rheingau Musik Festival. AYO will then perform a homecoming concert in Sydney Opera House on 31 July. 

Melbourne violinist Christian Li, 17, who has spent the past year studying at the Menuhin School in London, will perform Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, while concert staples such as Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade will allow young orchestral talent to shine.

The inclusion of Alice Chance’s Through Changing Landscape and Peter Sculthorpe’s Earth Cry for didgeridoo and orchestra will add a distinctly Australian flavour. Didgeridoo virtuoso William Barton will be there to “blend the oldest continuous living culture in the world with Europe’s rich musical legacy”.

The Australian Youth Orchestra rehearsing at the Akoesticum. Photo supplied

The AYO’s performance in Amsterdam is part of the annual Summer Concerts at the Concertgebouw, which this year features nine youth orchestras from all over the world: the Greek Youth...