AYO Summer Music Festival

For two weeks, Adelaide will pulse with the energy and passion of the next generation of performers, composers, and arts administrators. Don’t miss the festival that brings the future of music to life!

Immerse yourself in the sweeping romance of Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier Suite, the intense drama of Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7, and the Nordic beauty of Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2. Be transported to the battlefields of Eastern Europe with Janáček’s Taras Bulba, where the music echoes the fierce spirit of Cossack warriors and the haunting tales of a 17th-century conflict, all blazing with the fiery energy of Australia’s best young musicians.

The festival also showcases contemporary gems by Mexican composers Gabriela Ortiz and Arturo Márquez, adding vibrant threads to the festival’s rich tapestry. And don’t miss the opportunity to hear three contrasting works by Australia’s own Jessica Wells, this year’s composer-in-residence.

For two weeks, Adelaide will pulse with the energy and passion of the next generation of performers, composers, and arts administrators. Don’t miss the festival that brings the future of music to life!

Saturday 11 January, 4pm

Romantic in essence; defiant in nature. Fire up the organ; this is music "capable of stirring the world"

Saturday 11 January, 7:30pm

Travel through time with the sparkle of Strauss’s waltzes and the spicy, foot-tapping beats of Márquez’s Danzon No. 2. From ballroom opulence to vibrant Latin rhythms, this concert promises a joyful ride from start to finish.

Friday 17 January, 6:30pm

Prepare your senses for the freshest sounds in orchestral music. Guided by the phenomenal Jessica Wells, one of Australia’s most prolific and successful composers, these young composers will use every crayon in the box.

Friday 17 January, 8pm

Red and green, blue and orange. Brass and percussion. This is fun and irreverent concert will have you laughing in surprise and dancing in your seat.

Saturday 18 January, 4pm

With twilight’s brush, the orchestra paints elemental magic—earth’s deep growls, water’s shimmering serenade, and fire’s crackling frenzy—crafting an audacious nocturne of mythic splendour.

Saturday 18 January, 4pm

The AYO Summer Music Festival concludes in a kaleidoscopic whirl: a blue deer, three oranges, and the jubilance of the Happy Occasion that is the National Music Camp

Host or Publisher Australian Youth Orchestra