About

From this inspirational moment, Ann and Elizabeth came to realise the hunger in students to be part of something bigger than themselves. The pair drew on their great wealth of experience and began forging valuable partnerships, both local and national, in order to support the young players; they began with 16 players and a vision. The Bellingen Youth Orchestra now proudly supports over 100 registered players across four ensembles. In 2007 there were 71 violin players in the Bellingen Shire, today there are more than 500 young people learning orchestral instruments supported by over 30 inspirational music teachers.

With regular concerts each year, the BYO hosts workshops, biannual camps, free community performances, and collaborations with musicians from ensembles such as the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Haydn Ensemble, and the Acacia Quartet to ensure it remains a platform for musical ingenuity and exploration.

The BYO proudly supports each of its students as they find their own musical pathways. Some have become involved with programs run by the Australian Youth Orchestra and the ACO Academy, others have joined the NSW Arts Unit Tour of the UK and Ireland and others have gone on to study and follow careers in music. It is, however, the opportunity to inspire a lifelong love of music that remains a foundation to all of the endeavours of the BYO and they celebrate the moments when music students become musicians.

The Bellingen Youth Orchestra’s strength lies not only in the talent and energy of its young players but in the support and relationships founded in its community. The orchestra has flourished through the commitment of music teachers and community volunteers, as well as the continued patronage of David Helfgott. David Helfgott continues to perform annually with the BYO.

From its inception, the orchestra has developed programmes to support the musical education of young players, with a driving philosophy to provide opportunity for all.

Providing a range of instruments to primary schools, the Orchestra enables access to learn, explore and experience musical interests from a young age. Access to instruments and school music programs provide music pathways for young people through their schooling years and beyond

To ensure that all BYO players have access to their music programmes the BYO relies on its continued collaboration with the Bellingen Shire community. Their long term supporter ‘Camp Creative’ have shared this vision by providing many young players with scholarship opportunities to assist with the cost of lessons and maintenance of instruments over a number of years. The Rotary and the Lions Club have contributed to the purchase of instruments and uniforms for the Orchestra and the Bellingen Fine Music Festival has provided resources to support music composition and recording by local students. Nationally, enduring partnerships with the Australian Youth Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra and Sydney Symphony Orchestra have elevated local players’ understanding of performance to an unprecedented level.

The benefits of these connections have been extended far beyond the student participants to the many hundreds who have attended concerts over the past 15 years.

In 2016, the Bellingen Youth Orchestra became an incorporated not-for-profit association. It relies on the continued hard work of its volunteers and committee members to ensure the experiences and musical opportunities for all young aspiring players continue to grow.