Young Artist Exchange Successfully Held in UNESCO City of Music

July saw Adelaide host budding local and international young musicians at the Internatioal Young Artist Exchange (YAE). YAE was held from 19 - 24 July and hosted students from Adelaide and China for the Introductory Musical Experiences Program designed for hopeful young artists. The program used music and dance to connect students from different cultures during the exchange.

“Seeing the kids grow over the four-day program was a testament to how music can promote diversity and bridge cultures,” said Harmonnia Junus, Director of the Young Artist Exchange and Co-Founder/Artistic Director of Artists By Any Other Name.

The program was hosted by New York multidisciplinary collective ‘Artists By Any Other Name’ who joined the students on the final day in a joint performance of Debussy’s La Boîte a Joujoux with Artists By Any Other Name at the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s Grainger Studio. “The program creatively engages curious young artists, and gives them a chance to express themselves through the arts.” said Pedro Vizzarro Vallejos, violist of Artists By Any Other Name who arranged La Boite a Joujoux for piano quartet for the tour. “Seeing these young artists from different countries come together through music and dance was such a special experience.”

The Young Artist Exchange also raised over $5,000 for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, performing a themed concert in the Starlight Express Room at the Women and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide, broadcast throughout the hospital. A fundraiser was also held in Adelaide Town Hall, with the Lord Mayor Martin Haese in attendance.

Wattle Range Council of the Limestone Coast presented an extension of Young Artist Exchange at the end of July. The program engaged over 1,100 students and included lecture demonstrations for local schools and workshops for young musicians and dancers.

With the support of China Southern Airlines as its major sponsor, Artists By Any Other Name premiered a special performance at Tantanoola caves. “The performance of Fractals in the Dark was inspired by the unique formations of the cave,” said Ms Junus. “To be able to perform and create work in the natural beauty of South Australia was so special – it won’t be long before we’re back.”

Artistic Director Harmonnia Junus is a New York based Violinist. The Australian born Chinese musician moved to New York at the age of 16 to pursue studies at Mannes the New School for Music, one of America’s finest music schools. She has performed as a soloist at the Sydney Opera House, National Concert Hall in Taiwan and the Jaozi Hall in Sichuan, China.