Speaking from the Royal Academy of Music in London, High Commissioner to the UK Stephen Smith has announced a new international agreement between Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and the Royal Academy of Music.

The agreement will facilitate international opportunities for Australian and British musicians studying at the MSO Academy and the Royal Academy. The three-year program of collaboration and exchange seeks to enrich the training of the Royal Academy and MSO Academy members and prepare young musicians for professional performance careers on the international stage.

L – R: Jack Liebeck, Royal Academy of Music; Freya Franzen, MSO Second Violin; Isobel Howard, Royal Academy of Music; Rachael Tobin, MSO Associate Principal Cello. Photo © Jenny Magee

With the first intake to commence in 2025, the MSO Academy and Royal Academy will take part in an annual exchange program that will facilitate up to five members of each Academy spending 10-14 days with their international counterparts, deepening people-to-people links across the Australian and British music industry.

While in residence, the members will have the opportunity to rehearse and perform with their hosts and receive lessons from relevant Academy faculty. Members will collaborate on a...