The Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO) has announced its 2025 season and a return to international touring after a six-year hiatus from the global stage.

The country’s leading incubator of classical music talent kicks of its 2025 with a series of performances across Australia before undertakes a European tour in mid-2025. Conducted by David Robertson, it will be the AYO’s first international engagement since 2019.

Australian Youth Orchestra. Photo @ Lisa Maree Williams

Among the 2025 season’s domestic program highlights are collaborations with cellist Timo-Veikko Valve from the Australian Chamber Orchestra, didgeridoo virtuoso and composer William Barton and violin star Christian Li. These artists will join the AYO in presenting new works and arrangements by leading Australian composers including Jessica Wells, Miriam Hyde and Ann Carr-Boyd.

The AYO year will commence with a Summer Season concert under the baton of one of UK conductor Kerem Hasan. Participants will perform works including Elena Kats-Chernin’s Fantasie im Wintergarten alongside violinist Emily Sun from 11–18 January in Adelaide and in two Queensland concerts, performed in Caloundra and Brisbane...