About Us
Aotearoa's first and original youth orchestra, founded 1948.
Founded in 1948 as the very first youth orchestra in the Southern Hemisphere, the Auckland Youth Orchestra (AYO) stands as Aotearoa New Zealand s premier regional youth symphony.
We bring together musicians aged 16 to 26 who are passionate about their craft and ready to step into an opportunity like no other. Under the baton of our international conductor and music director, our young artists train within a full-scale symphony orchestra, collaborate with leading professional mentors, and play to expectant audiences in Auckland s best concert halls.
The result? First class experiences. Polish and freshness in equal measure, alongside genuine connections.
AYO performs widely, across Tāmaki Makaurau and beyond. We ve taken our sound to Australia and the Pacific, North America, and Europe, and have built an international reputation as a world-class youth orchestra.
Our players do far more than master performance - they discover how to lead with courage, organise with precision, and support each other under pressure. Many go on to professional orchestras around the world. Others take that same discipline into business, science, public life, and beyond.
Wherever their path lies, you can be sure of one thing:
Like any good symphony, AYO is made up of multiple moving parts. Some sit in the background; others take centre stage. Every one of them helps in making the magic happen.
- Our Players: some of Aotearoa's most driven young musicians.
- Our Team: the practical, logistical, and artistic direction behind every rehearsal and performance.
- Our Alumni: once AYO, always AYO. See where the music has taken our players.
Our Players
The People Who Keep AYO Running
AYO brings together some of Aotearoa's most driven young musicians, each one committed to the hours of rehearsal, the discipline of the ensemble, and the thrill of of coming together to perform seriously ambitious repertoire.
Thinking about joining them? Find out what it takes.
Become A Player
Frances Liu
Cellist
Damon Herlihy-O’Brien
Cellist
Ashley Ling
Cellist
Joy Shi
Bassoonist
Harper Zhang
Cellist
Harry Kim
Cellist
Howard Lu
Cellist
Elvies Hu
Cellist
Our Team
The People Who Keep AYO Running
AYO runs entirely on the time, expertise, and passion of volunteers — people who've experienced first-hand what music can do, and who show up to make sure the next generation gets that same chance.
Artistic Leadership
Our Music Director and conductor Antun Poljanich shapes every AYO season, choosing repertoire that stretches the current cohort of players, showcases their growing skills, and gives audiences a genuinely great concert experience. His creative direction and ambitious performance standards set the bar, and through intensive sectionals with guest tutors and mentors, every AYO player who gives their best can be sure of being challenged to reach their full potential.
Antun Poljanich
Music Director, Conductor
Executive Committee
Our Executive Committee oversees everything from finances to logistics to player welfare, all while planning for AYO's future to ensure we stay responsive to the needs of Auckland's young musicians in a changing environment. The committee includes three player representatives, because we believe the people actually in the orchestra should have a voice in how it's run.
Patron
President
Vice President
Chairperson
Secretary
Music Director
Orchestra Manager
Assistant Orchestra Manager
Administration
Our Administration Team oversees everything from finances to logistics to player welfare, all while planning for AYO's future to ensure we stay responsive to the needs of Auckland's young musicians in a changing environment. The team includes three player representatives, because we believe the people actually in the orchestra should have a voice in how it's run.
Patron
President
Vice President
Chairperson
Secretary
Music Director
Orchestra Manager
Assistant Orchestra Manager
Our Alumni
The People Who Keep AYO Running
AYO brings together some of Aotearoa's most driven young musicians, each one committed to the hours of rehearsal, the discipline of the ensemble, and the thrill of of coming together to perform seriously ambitious repertoire.
Thinking about joining them? Find out what it takes.
Become A Player
Frances Liu
Cellist
Damon Herlihy-O’Brien
Cellist
Ashley Ling
Cellist
Joy Shi
Bassoonist
Harper Zhang
Cellist
Harry Kim
Cellist
Howard Lu
Cellist
Elvies Hu
Cellist
Our Partners
The People Who Keep AYO Running
AYO brings together some of Aotearoa's most driven young musicians, each one committed to the hours of rehearsal, the discipline of the ensemble, and the thrill of of coming together to perform seriously ambitious repertoire.
Thinking about joining them? Find out what it takes.
Become A Player
Frances Liu
Cellist
Damon Herlihy-O’Brien
Cellist
Ashley Ling
Cellist
Joy Shi
Bassoonist
Harper Zhang
Cellist
Harry Kim
Cellist
Howard Lu
Cellist
Elvies Hu
Cellist