Antun Poljanich is the orchestra's fourth Musical Director. Born in Croatia, Antun studied piano and theory at Dubrovnik School for Musical Education, then studied conducting at the University of Lubljana. Following post-graduate studies in Austria, he won a scholarship, which took him to Leningrad for a three-year Master Course in Conducting at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory. He then worked with the Leningrad State Symphony Orchestra, the Veneto Philharmonia, the Slovene and Croatian National Orchestras and other prominent orchestras in Russia and Europe.
Richard Chen – Concertmaster Richard has been concertmaster of the Auckland Youth Orchestra since 2009. He began violin lessons from his father at the age of 10 and gave his first public performance six months later. At the age of 12, he won a Northern District Knights Templar Foundation Scholarship and has since won numerous music competitions including the NZ Sentinel Secondary Performers Competition in 2005. He has been awarded the ‘Performing Artist of the Year' award from Rangitoto College and a North Harbour Club AIMES award for emerging talent in music. He has performed as a soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and Bay of Plenty Symphonia. In 2008 he released his debut album, Violin Virtuoso. Currently he is studying for a Bachelor of Health Sciences and Laws at the University of Auckland where he has been a undergraduate representative since 2008.
(c) auckland youth orchestra 2008 | Photography by Claire Cowen
Antun Poljanich is the orchestra's fourth Musical Director. Born in Croatia, Antun studied piano and theory at Dubrovnik School for Musical Education, then studied conducting at the University of Lubljana. Following post-graduate studies in Austria, he won a scholarship, which took him to Leningrad for a three-year Master Course in Conducting at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory. He then worked with the Leningrad State Symphony Orchestra, the Veneto Philharmonia, the Slovene and Croatian National Orchestras and other prominent orchestras in Russia and Europe. 
hestra since 2009. He began violin lessons from his father at the age of 10 and gave his first public performance six months later. At the age of 12, he won a Northern District Knights Templar Foundation Scholarship and has since won numerous music competitions including the NZ Sentinel Secondary Performers Competition in 2005. He has been awarded the ‘Performing Artist of the Year' award from Rangitoto College and a North Harbour Club AIMES award for emerging talent in music. He has performed as a soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and Bay of Plenty Symphonia. In 2008 he released his debut album, Violin Virtuoso. Currently he is studying for a Bachelor of Health Sciences and Laws at the University of Auckland where he has been a undergraduate representative since 2008.