When I was introduced to Adelaide Youth Orchestras (AdYO), I didn’t know what to expect and initially perceived this internship to be daunting. During my time here, I have learnt that AdYO is very community oriented and strives to instil values, such as, passion, fulfilment and courage within their musicians. I am very lucky to help contribute to this community and work with these like-minded individuals. I, myself, have also been able to gain more appreciation for programs that inspire those to pursue something that can really shape who they are and the person they can become. I believe honing musical talent is something that is important, as it not only provides entertainment but also is able to facilitate strong minds, enabling growth at both a social and cognitive level. I find it inspiring how AdYO advocates for these young musicians, not only to boost their musical expertise but also to put in place skills that they can transfer through life.
In the scope of my role, I have been given the opportunity to connect with various alumni. From hearing about their stories, I was very impressed, with some who have even gone to pursue endeavours within various prestigious, leading music institutions and careers both nationwide and internationally. Others have been successful in starting their own ensembles or have been able to use their learnt skills in all different aspects of life. It was a delight to see that the musicians were able to find a supportive community where they could learn, grow, and receive guidance from each other and their exceptional mentors. This is something that separates AdYO from other similar organisations, as they believe in the power of opportunity, rather than focusing on just the achievements of the musician or their technical skill.
It’s been great learning more about their stories, as it has given me great insight as to how much AdYO has changed the lives of these musicians. I hope that my efforts as an intern will also reflect well on the organisation and will help them support their mission to foster a safe and supportive environment for their musicians.
I believe that this role has given me greater purpose, complementing what my formal education currently offers. I now have profound skills not only facilitating and managing communications but also deepening my understanding of how these small individual tasks can really make a big difference. Whether that was simply by responding to emails or by promoting the captivating stories of various musicians, I have become more appreciative of each individual contribution. I aspire to extend the knowledge I have learnt and apply them to my studies, future work, and other pursuits with a similar way of operating. Additionally, being able to work in this role provided me with a clearer insight as to how I can create works that have impactful storytelling and well-meaning intention. This was especially important for me to learn, as this allowed be to think more carefully about how the stories were presented and think about the deeply human experiences of the people behind them. For this, I would like to thank my colleagues and superiors for providing me with this opportunity. In my view, my overall experience learning more about AdYO and the ways it has contributed to society, has given me a new perspective and worldview. I have felt this specific experience has been overall very rewarding, in the sense that it has allowed me to give and contribute to a community that is truly bigger than myself.
