The AYO Soloist Competition offers existing orchestra members the chance to compete for monetary prizes and a concerto appearance with the orchestra. The orchestra showcases young soloists and composers; it accompanied Dame Kiri Te Kanawa in her youth and, more recently, John Chen (piano), Amitai Pati (tenor) and Thomas Hutchinson (oboe).
We gratefully acknowledge a generous donation received from Mr Bernard Waters, to support the cash prizes awarded in this competition. With a prize pool totalling $5,600, the Competition Winner receives $2,000 and there are prizes for Outstanding Performances, a Gem Section winner (short piece), best Under18 performer and two discretionary awards from the Music Director.
Past Competition Winners
2023 Alina Chen - Nielsen, Flute Concerto
2022 Winner prize not awarded
2021 Damon Herlihy-O'Brien - Kabalevsky, Cello Concerto No. 1 in G minor
2020 Kiara Kong - Bassi/Verdi, Fantaisie Brillante on Themes from Rigoletto (Clarinet)
2019 Ricky Shi - Weber, Bassoon Concerto in F Major, Op. 75
2018 Jacob Webster - Mouquet, La Flute de Pan
2017 Anna Cooper - Nielsen, Flute Concerto
2016 Noah Rudd - Anthony Ritchie, Cartoon: Fantasy for Oboe
2015 Eva Ding - Chen Yi, The Golden Flute
2014 Jacky Siu - Shostakovich, Cello Concerto No.1
2013 Jim Wu - Bruch, Violin Concerto
2012 Olivia Francis - Beethoven, Violin Concerto
2011 Albee Ai - Mozart, Bassoon Concerto in Bflat, K.191