Trumpeter and MYO alumnus Josh Rogan speaks to Limelight ahead of his concerto performance at an anniversary concert.

Melbourne Youth Orchestras, an organisation that has provided countless performance and mentoring opportunities for young musicians, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. In celebration of this important milestone, its premiere ensemble Melbourne Youth Orchestra will come together to present a concert called New Worlds.

Led by MYO Chief Conductor Steven Hillinger, New Worlds opens with Glinka’s Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla, followed by the world premiere of Australian composer Graeme Koehne’s Song of the Open Road, specially commissioned for the occasion with the support of the Australia Council for the Arts.

MYO Chief Executive Officer Dorian Jones explains that Song of the Open Road has been designed with youth orchestras in mind, and will be made available to Australian school orchestras after its premiere. “We’ve also been able to provide complimentary tickets for disadvantaged young people from ages 11 to 18 to attend New Worlds through the generous support of the Newsboys Foundation,” he said.

New Worlds brings back MYO alumnus and trumpeter Josh Rogan to perform William Lovelock’s Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra. After three years with MYO from 2009 to 2011, Rogan...