Daiki is starting his second year in University of Auckland and spent the first year in University of Otago in Dunedin, playing in Dunedin Youth Orchestra for a year in 2023. Daiki started playing the French Horn when he was 10 after discovering that the French Horn was in the Guinness Book of World...
Bill has been learning the trombone for nine years and studied under Mark Close. Now, Bill serves as the principal trombone player in the Auckland Grammar School Symphony Orchestra and the Premier Concert Bands, and as the third trombone player in the Big Band. Currently, Bill is studying Year 12 (Form 6) in Auckland...
Celine began playing the trumpet at the age of seven. Since then, she has won numerous regional and national brass and wind band solo competitions. In 2023, she earned first prize and the Judge’s Distinction Award at the American Protégé Woodwind and Brass Competition, which led to a performance at Carnegie Hall in New...
William Sun has just started his postgraduate studies at the University of Auckland, majoring in piano and trumpet. From the age of four, William learned the piano from his mother until 2020, when he began studying under Rae de Lisle. One year later, he won two classes of the North Shore Performing Arts Society’s...
Nuku Atkinson-Hay is entering their 12th year of school and started playing horn four years ago at the age of eleven. They take horn lessons from Anita Austin and have played in their school band for three years. Nuku is new to AYO and hopes they will enjoy their first year playing in an...
Talia is currently in her third year of studying music at the University of Auckland. Talia first discovered her love for the trumpet at the age of three, after hearing her father play. She began playing at the age of seven. Since then, she has been involved in many different groups through school, uni,...
Fergus has been learning the French Horn from David Kay for six years. He is a Year 13 student at Westlake Boys High School where he plays in the Westlake Symphony and Concert Band, and sings in the Westlake choirs. Fergus enjoys stand up paddle boarding and competes frequently....
Previously a violinist, Athena wanted to explore the other side of the orchestra and to gain a different perspective. Two years later, she switched position and is now beginning her journey as a trombonist in AYO! Athena is currently studying Classical Performance specialising in trombone at the University of Auckland under Douglas Cross. Besides...
Evan Metcalfe is in his third year at the University of Auckland, studying a conjoint degree of Bachelor of Music majoring in French Horn Performance and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Part II.5. Evan has been a member of the AYO for 9 years, playing as Principal Horn since 2022. Evan has also performed with...