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 financial support from the Margaret Neutze Legacy Fund, proudly managed by Perpetual Guardian. 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
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