Imagine having a gift for music but seeing your dreams fade because of geography and logistics. There are many ways for a gifted child not to reach their potential, but loneliness is recognised as one of the key likely dream-crushers.
“There’s a lot of research into gifted and talented learning,” Dorian Jones, CEO of the Melbourne Youth Orchestras, said.
“People can be born with a gift, but they need work and support to convert that into a talent. One thing they need to maintain interest is a connection to a peer network. If they don’t have that connection with peers, a young person will give up on their gift and take up something more likely to fit in with their community.
“So, if they’re in a country town, for example, and footy is big but music is not, they’ll drop their musical gift to play footy, to have that connection.”
The MYO works hard to stop potential international musicians becoming mediocre half-back flankers through a series of programs and initiatives designed to support and encourage musical talent for those who would otherwise struggle with geographic, economic or social barriers.
A key initiative is the Summer School Residential Camp, where the Newsboys Foundation partners with MYO to host kids from rural and regional Victoria to be part of the summer school initiative.
Hosted at camp facilities in the heart of Melbourne, these aspiring musicians find themselves surrounded by other young people who are as passionate about music as they are. It can be life changing.
“Quite honestly, it saved his life,” one mother told The Age in January, 2024. “As a primary-school-aged child, he was quite a quirky person and struggled to fit into your average public school. He had some very dark and difficult places – last year in particular. [The orchestra] gave him friends and unconditional support. He always had something to look forward to.”
James, 16, from Bungaree, near Ballarat, was one aspiring musician who attended the camp and told Newsboys that he had been blown away by the quality of the other young musicians he was rehearsing with, as they prepared for a concert finale at the Melbourne Town Hall.
“All the kids are ridiculously talented,” he said. “I’m so lucky to be in the top jazz band because these people are next level and it’s only the residential program that’s allowing me to do this.
“My trumpet teacher recommended it and it’s expanded my horizons. It’s really different to the school experience, which felt finite.
“The thing for me is seeing the big picture,” James added.
“Getting a glimpse of the music industry, being conducted and directed, and meeting all these new people and making friends.”
Paige, a 14-year-old flutist from Cobram, was hanging out after rehearsal with Youki, a 16-year-old trumpet player from Sale.
“We both camped last year, played the same level in music and then kept in touch,” Paige said.
For Youki, who played in the Sale band and her school band, being back among so many talented and passionate young musicians fuelled her passion for jazz. “My jazz teacher at school has been on long service leave, so I’m learning a lot here. There’s a really big difference, and new techniques that I’m picking up.”
“Normally, we really only get to play in school bands or have private lessons,” Paige said. “Here, I get to come to the city, have time away from home, play with these amazing people and learn new pieces.”
The concept of a week-long live-in camp for the rural players started in 2016 and Dorian said he recalls sitting on the train, talking to the first intake of young people as they all travelled to the camp from the Victorian College of the Arts. He was struck by what an interesting, fantastic group of kids they were.
That feeling hasn’t stopped as the MYO’s summer school rural players embrace the city and their role in the various levels and types of bands that perform.
“One difference with Melbourne Youth Orchestras is that we place young people together according to their skill level, unlike school where students are generally sorted by age,” Dorian said.
“At the urban camp, some kids might be in the top orchestra, or in a jazz band or in one of the younger string orchestras, but they come together in the afternoon and overnight, travel to the summer school together and only then split into their bands.”
With almost 900 young musicians taking part in the 2024 summer school, the 18 urban camp members found themselves in among the equivalent of a large school population at Melbourne University, but where every student was as passionate about music as they were.
Leading local conductors, musicians and directors led five days of rehearsals before the final concerts.
“In a time of rising costs and a struggle for government funding, student fees are our main source of income and they would need to rise unless philanthropic supporters like Newsboys give us precious assistance. We are very grateful,” Dorian said.
Nick Place