Australian Haydn Ensemble
Spring Academy 2025

Presented in collaboration with the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music

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Dates:

Wednesday 8 – Friday 10 October 2025 inclusive

Fees:

Modern Instrument Youth Orchestra: $240 ($80 per day), 10am - 3pm

Advanced Period Instrument Orchestra: $300 ($100 per day - early bird price), 10am - 5pm

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Location:

Wollongong Conservatorium of Music

We’re thrilled to announce the return of the Australian Haydn Ensemble Spring Academy in 2025 — a dynamic three-day immersion in the world of the Baroque and Classical eras, historical performance and period instrument practice.

Whether you're a budding young string player or a tertiary-level student exploring the world of period performance, this intensive orchestral experience offers a unique opportunity to work side-by-side with the core musicians of the Australian Haydn Ensemble (AHE) and dive deep into historically informed performance. Students will learn about baroque and classical period instrument performance practice and how to apply it to their music-making.

Held in partnership with the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music, the 2025 Academy features two tailored learning streams and culminates in a public concert showcasing specially selected repertoire by Haydn, Mozart, Boccherini, Vivaldi and Bach.

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Two Streams – Tailored for All Stages of Development

Stream 1: Modern Youth Orchestra (Modern Instruments 440 pitch)

For school years 5–8 | AMEB Grade 4 and above
Participants will perform on modern instruments at A440 pitch. We plan to make sure that students will have the opportunity to try baroque/classical bows as part of the experience. Applications are open to students from both metropolitan and regional areas. The Modern AHA! Orchestral Course provides participants with an immersive and unique musical experience, strongly connected to eighteenth-century music and philosophies, and is designed for students from school years 5 - 8. We recommend applicants be a minimum GRADE 4 AMEB or equivalent and above for this stream.

Stream 2: Advanced Period Instrument Orchestra (415hz pitch)

For tertiary and early professional level musicians
Advanced students at a tertiary or early-stage professional level who have some prior knowledge of period instruments, or have been studying period instrument performance, will be invited to join the AHYE (Australian Haydn Youth Ensemble) to form an ensemble on period instruments with AHE principals. All participants will have the chance to play alongside and perform with the members of the Australian Haydn Ensemble throughout the course and at the culminating concert performance. If you are an established professional modern instrumentalist who is branching out into baroque performance practice, we would welcome an application from you. No prior experience is necessary. If you do have experience with period instruments - we would love to have you on the course!

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Course Inclusions:

  • Daily orchestral and chamber music rehearsals & coaching with AHE’s specialist musicians

  • Solo masterclasses in Baroque & Classical repertoire of your choice

  • Sessions on historical performance techniques, string and wind playing, and instrument demonstrations with our specialist musicians who are some of the most experienced in Australia in baroque and classical period instrument performance

  • Baroque Dance Workshop with expert tutor Aimee Brown who will show you how this can enhance your instrumental performance

  • Mindfulness Sessions to experience how this can help you to prepare for performances and manage performance anxiety

  • A Resource Pack with Period Instrument information and Listening guides and curated resources for informed performance

  • Culminating public performance with members of AHE on Friday 10 October in Wollongong

  • Before and Aftercare Options available for primary aged students (9-10am and 3-5pm) at an additional cost

  • A post concert reception on the lawn of the Conservatorium for participants and guests, after the concluding concert with complimentary food and drinks

Additional Activities:

The course will also include sessions on historical instruments, string and wind techniques and historical performance practice with Artistic Director Skye McIntosh and other members of the Ensemble. Further details of these sessions will be released closer to the time of the course.

Here’s what past Spring Academy participants had to say about the course…

  • "...a fabulous and utterly uplifting experience and heaps of fun..."

    2022 Spring Academy Participant

  • "My favourite aspect of the course was playing in the period orchestra alongside the AHE musicians. It's great for young musicians to have an opportunity to perform alongside the AHE musicians in the lead-up to playing professionally."

    2022 Spring Academy Participant

  • "I enjoyed being able to learn different baroque techniques from the tutors then being able to incorporate it into our playing, also by learning how to baroque dance, it better informed my playing."

    2022 Spring Academy Participant

  • "The most valuable aspect for me was playing in a chamber orchestra lead by Skye, not conducted. It was a Huge shift of focus for me, learning to listen to whoever I was actually playing with and taking much more responsibility for my own part..."

    2022 Spring Academy Participant

  • "I really enjoyed learning to play with intention and understanding how to display baroque styles in our music."

    2022 Spring Academy Participant

  • "I thought it was wonderful ... you were all so available and focused on giving us whatever help/advise you saw we needed. "

    2022 Spring Academy Participant

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT

  • Skye McIntosh Violin coach and course director

    • Leader, Australian Haydn Ensemble

    Daniel Yeadon Cello & Mindfulness coach

    • Principal Cello, Australian Haydn Ensemble

    • Cello Teacher at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music

    • Former cello with the Australian Chamber Orchestra

    • Former Cellist with the Fitzwilliam Quartet

    Melissa Farrow Flute and recorder coach

    • Principal flute of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra

    • Sydney Conservatorium of Music teacher and masterclass leader

    Pippa MacMillan Double bass coach

    • Former Principal Bass of Tafelmusik Orchestra, Canada

    • Performed with the English Concert

    Aimee Brown - Baroque Dance Coach

  • Advanced Orchestra participants will have the opportunity to participate in masterclasses on their solo repertoire. Please bring solo repertoire of your own choice.

    Ensemble repertoire depends upon uptake; we hope to perform orchestral music and chamber music by Haydn, Vivaldi, Bach and Mozart.

    The ensemble repertoire parts will be provided (electronically) in advance.

    Rehearsals will involve detailed work from the outset, so please ensure that you have learned the notes before the course begins.

    You will get more from the course and have more fun by being prepared!

    Instruments

    • Recorder

    • Flute

    • Oboe

    • Bassoon

    • Violin

    • Viola

    • Cello

    • Double bass

    • Harpsichord

    • Lute and theorbo

    Apart from keyboardists, participants are expected to provide their own equipment, e.g. baroque instrument and bow for string players.

    Pitch: A = 440 Hz (Modern Orchestra)

    Pitch: A = 415 Hz (Period Orchestra)

  • The following is a draft of what you can expect on the course. The final schedule will be delivered closer to the course date once final details are confirmed.

    You should plan to arrive at the Wollongong Conservatorium on Wednesday 08 October 2025 by around 9am in order to find the location.

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    MODERN INSTRUMENT ORCHESTRA

    Wednesday 8 October

    • 9-10am Before Care Option Available at additional cost.

    • 10am to 12.30pm - Welcome & Full rehearsal

    • 12:30 to 1:30 - lunch break (BYO lunch)

    • 1.30pm to 3pm - Instrumental Sectionals

    • 3pm to 5pm - Aftercare option available at additional cost.

    Thursday 9 October

    • 9-10am Before Care Option Available at additional cost.

    • 10-11.30am Rehearsal

    • 11.30-12 Music Games on the lawn

    • 12pm - 1pm lunch break

    • 1pm to 3pm - Orchestra Sectionals

    3pm to 5pm - Finish at 3pm or Aftercare option available until 5pm at additional cost.

    Friday 10 October

    • 10am to 12.30pm - Full Rehearsal

    • 12:30pm - 1:30pm lunch break

    • 1.30pm to 3pm - Final rehearsal & Sectional Time

    • 3-5pm Aftercare option available for time between the rehearsal and concert

    • 5-7pm - Final concert followed by friendly bbq reception on the lawn at the Conservatorium

    ADVANCED PERIOD INSTRUMENT ORCHESTRA

    Wednesday 8 October

    • 9.30am to 9.45am - Welcome & Morning Mindfulness Session (Advanced Participants Only)

    • 10am to 12.30pm - Full rehearsal

    • 12:30 - 1:30 lunch break

    • 1.30pm to 3pm - Sectionals

    • 3.30pm to 5pm - Chamber music

    Thursday 9 October

    • 9.30am to 9.45am - Morning Mindfulness Session (Advanced Participants Only)

    • 10.30am to 12pm -Full rehearsal

    • 12pm - 1pm lunch break

    • 1pm to 3pm - Sectionals

    • 3.30pm to 5pm - Baroque Dance Workshop

    Friday 10 October

    • 10am to 12.30pm - Full Rehearsal

    • 12:30 - 1:30 lunch break

    • 1.30pm to 5pm - Final rehearsal & Sectional Time

    • 6-8pm - Final concert followed by friendly bbq on the lawn at the Concervatorium

  • Course fees must be paid by 4pm on 1 September 2025 for your place to be secured.

    A number of scholarships and bursaries, worth 50% and 100% of the course fee, are available.

    Once your application is approved, you will receive a link to pay the course fee.

  • Lunch and accommodation are NOT included in the course fee. Participants must book their own accommodation and bring their own Lunch, snacks and water to the course.

    There are supermarkets and very good cafes and restaurants nearby, however primary school aged participants WILL NOT BE permitted to leave the Conservatorium so must bring their own lunch, snacks and water for the whole day.

    The most economical option, though, is likely to be bringing your own lunch.

    Local accommodation will book out due to school holidays, so it is recommended that participants book accommodation as soon as possible.


  • The closest station to The Wollongong Conservatorium is North Wollongong Station. It is a 5 minute trip from North Wollongong Station on the free shuttle bus then a 15min walk through the Gardens to the Conservatorium.

    Wollongong has a free shuttle bus service as well as public buses which service the area.

    Free shuttle info

    Free shuttle map

The Australian Haydn Ensemble reserves the right to alter the course, including the tutors and schedule, where this is found to be unavoidable.

2022 SPRING ACADEMY

Watch our video from the 2022 Spring Academy to get a bit more of an idea of what to expect on the course. It’s going to be fun and we hope to see you there!