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AYO's first 75 years...
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About The Auckland Youth Orchestra
Auckland Youth Orchestra is the premier regional youth orchestra in New Zealand. Founded in 1948, and originally named the Auckland Junior Symphony Orchestra (or AJSO), it was the first youth orchestra established in the Southern Hemisphere. It is designed to bridge the gap between school orchestras and adult professional groups.
The role of AYO is not just to perform concerts but to train future musicians to feed into our national ensembles and orchestras. We also play an important audience development role as many of our young audience members are likely to be the future supporters of the arts.
AYO is a vibrant social experience for young people and makes an important contribution to the cultural life of Auckland and New Zealand. No other orchestral organisation or institution in New Zealand provides such a comprehensive programme to musicians up to the age of 26.
Perform up to twelve concerts each year
Exciting repertoire for players and audiences
More than 2,500 musicians have played in AYO
Tours
The orchestra regularly presents concerts in centres throughout New Zealand and has toured to Australia, New Caledonia, North America, and Europe. The orchestra performs up to twelve concerts annually across the greater Auckland metropolitan area, nationally and abroad. We attract audiences of all ages with diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
2018 - AYO accepted an invitation from the Young Euro Classic Festival to return to Europe in August 2018, and performed once more in Berlin's Konzerthaus.
2013 - AYO toured the length of the South Island with concerts in Dunedin, Gore, Te Anau, Wanaka, Westport, and Nelson.
2011 - AYO travelled to Europe, being the first ensemble from New Zealand invited to perform at the renowned Young Euro Classic Festival in Berlin, Germany.