Australia And New Zealand Brightest Young Musicians Join The Sydney Symphony Orchestra's 2019 Fellowship Program

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra welcomes 12 of the brightest young musicians to its internationally-renowned Fellowship program in 2019. The year-long Fellowship program offers emerging artists the opportunity to work closely with Australia's premier orchestra, mentoring by permanent members of the different sections through technical and practical experience, and crucial training to secure positions in professional orchestras around the world.

Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellowship Artistic Director Roger Benedict is looking forward to working with the incoming 2019 Fellows.

"The Sydney Symphony Orchestra has a long-standing commitment to supporting the next generation of musicians," said Benedict. "In its 18-year history, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra's Fellowship program has continually provided young artists with the tools and opportunities needed to pursue and share their musical passions as professional musicians.

"The 2019 Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellows are representative of what the next generation of musicians are capable of. I look forward to working closely with them and showcasing the phenomenal skill and talent of Australasia's best and brightest young artists."

The 2019 Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellows are:

Tobias Aan, 23, ACT (Violin)

David Barlow, 24, NSW (Double bass)

Adam Cooper-Stanbury, 23, ACT (Percussion)

Beth Condon, 28, VIC (Viola)

Aidan Gabriels, 25, WA (French horn)

David Johnson, 23, NSW (Trumpet)

James Julian, 20, NSW (Clarinet)

Jordy Meulenbroeks, 22, QLD (Bassoon)

Jessica Oddie, 28, NZ (Violin)

Eve Osborn, 22, NSW (Oboe)

Eliza Sdraulig, 24, VIC (Cello)

Dale Vail, 24, NZ (Trombone)

Tobias Aan (violin), Aidan Gabriels (horn), and Eve Osborn (oboe) are returning for their second year of the Fellowship.

"I am thrilled to be returning to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellowship this year," said Aan. "This program is as good as it gets for an aspiring professional orchestral musician, and I feel extremely lucky to be able to do it for the second year running. This year, I'm looking forward to playing chamber music with new colleagues and having more lessons with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra musicians. I've had a wonderful time playing with this fantastic orchestra and have developed significantly as a musician. I can't wait to come back for more to extend my practical skill!"

Speaking about his experience with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellowship program in 2018, Gabriels described it as "extremely eye opening to the professional world of orchestral music" and noted that it allowed him "get to know many of the musicians I look up to."

Over the coming year, the Fellows will gain invaluable professional opportunities, including working with Chief Conductor and Artistic Director David Robertson; will receive mentorship and one-on-one lessons with Sydney Symphony Orchestra musicians; and will participate in masterclasses with renowned international guest artists. In addition to rehearsals and mainstage concerts with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the iconic Sydney Opera House, the Fellows will perform together in an extensive chamber music series and lead a variety of community engagement projects.

In 2018, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellows travelled to Nanjing, China, performing as part of the annual Nanjing Art Festival for what was the first international tour in the Fellowship program.

In 2016, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellowship program was recognised by an independent BYP Group report as offering an "in-depth program of orchestra experience not duplicated by any other Australian provider" and "addressing an unmet need" in preparing musicians for entering the profession.

The 2019 Fellows were chosen from over 200 applications across Australia and New Zealand. The Fellowship program relies on the generous support of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra's patrons, including the Dr Lee MacCormick Edwards Charitable Foundation, Paul Salteri AM and Sandra Salteri, and the Estate of the late Helen MacDonnell Morgan. Applications for the 2020 Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellowship opens in early March 2019.