Every Saturday in Adelaide, musical magic happens.
Nearly 300 young South Australians, aged from 8 to 24, come together to rehearse, learn and perform as part of the Adelaide Youth Orchestras (AdYO) — the state’s leading ensemble program for emerging musicians.
For many of these young people, the opportunity only exists because someone chose to give.
Founded in 2001, AdYO provides world-class orchestral training and ensemble experiences, supporting young musicians across multiple orchestras and programs each year. While AdYO is best known for its performances in major venues such as Adelaide Town Hall, the organisation’s true impact is often felt behind the scenes — in rehearsal rooms, regional schools, and individual moments of confidence and connection.
As a not-for-profit organisation, philanthropy is essential to making this work possible, with membership fees covering only a fraction of the real cost of participation.
“Tuition fees for AdYO really only cover about a third of the actual cost of participation,” says Nic Jeffries, AdYO’s Executive Director.
“Support takes many forms and every gift matters. Without the generous support of South Australians, our programs just wouldn’t be possible.
“A smaller one-off donation can help cover a tuition session for a week, right up to much larger donations that support a young musician’s instrument use and tuition for an entire year.”
Giving helps ensure that cost is never a barrier for young people with talent and drive and supports young musicians who might have otherwise missed out, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds or regional areas.
AdYO’s chair supporter initiative, Take Your Seat, allows donors to support a specific chair within one of the orchestra’s ensembles.
“That generosity can be lifechanging. We have a young musician who travels nearly five hours each way from Mount Gambier to Adelaide, every Saturday, to rehearse with AdYO. Without donor support, that journey and that opportunity just wouldn’t be possible.” — Nic Jeffries, Executive Director, AdYO
One of the most powerful outcomes of giving is AdYO’s ability to invest in instruments that are simply out of reach for most families and schools.
Through its “endangered instruments” program, philanthropy has enabled AdYO to purchase rare and specialist instruments such as bassoons, bass clarinets and tubas — some costing $20,000 to $30,000 each.
“With thanks to generous South Australians, we’ve been able to buy instruments that young people would simply never otherwise have access to,” Nic says. “That opens doors for them musically and professionally.”
Nic says giving also allows AdYO to connect young people with each other, a benefit that extends well beyond music.
“You see it every Saturday. Young people find their people here. They find a sense of belonging and that’s an incredibly powerful thing.”
Nic says AdYO’s supporters come from many backgrounds, and all have different reasons why they give.
“Some supporters love orchestral music and want to see it thrive. Others give because they want young people to have the chance to succeed at something they love,” says Jeffries. “Both make an extraordinary difference.”
This SA Giving Week, visit adyo.com.au/support-us/ to learn more about supporting South Australia’s talented young musicians, or visit givesa.org.au to donate to other arts and youth projects on the Give SA platform.
