Aspire International Youth Music Festival
Queensland, Australia
Our Vision
A world renowned youth music festival, fostering a culture of musical excellence and international connectedness, raising the aspirations of all students who take part.
What is Aspire?
- A prestigious youth music festival open to secondary schools in Australia, New Zealand and worldwide
- Held in Queensland, Australia
- The festival sections are concert bands, orchestras, jazz bands and choirs
- It is a competition
It is not-for-profit
We aim to attract the best and raise aspirations of young musicians
Held over four consecutive days
Every student will experience the competition, a workshop, a masterclass and a public performance.
The Aspire Experience
Competition
Our festival is first and foremost a competition.
Workshop
With one of our internationally renowned adjudicators.
Masterclass
With an expert clinician.
Public Performance
Public performances at iconic locations.
Not-for-profit
The ASPIRE International Youth Music Festival is proud to be a not-for-profit trading division of Student Horizons. Surplus from the ASPIRE Festival will be donated to the Foundation of Student Horizons; affording disadvantaged youth the opportunity to discover the world.
Our team
John Curro
John Curro AM MBE was both the founder and Director of Music for Queensland Youth Orchestras (QYO), conducting the Queensland Youth Symphony since its beginning in 1966. Throughout his distinguished career, Mr Curro received many prestigious awards including Member of the Order of Australia and Member of the British Empire.
Sarah-Grace Williams
Sarah-Grace Williams has received acclaim from audiences and critics alike for her vibrant energy, outstanding musicianship and dynamic presence on the podium with Limelight Magazine listing her amongst ‘10 of the Best Women Conductors – trailblazing talents that are leading the way for women conductors all over the world’.
Sean O’Boyle
An internationally renowned composer, conductor and performer, Mr O’Boyle was awarded the Order of Australia in 2015. Sean has collaborated with artists such as The Whitlams, Kate Ceberano, Tommy Emmanuel and James Morrison, and has written and produced music for more than 150 albums.
A/Prof Peter Luff
Associate Professor Peter Luff studied french horn at the University of Adelaide’s prestigious Elder Conservatorium. During his career as a professional horn player he has performed with most of Australia’s leading professional orchestras and arts organisations and is associate principal horn with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
Christian Pegley
Christians work has been showcased on local radio stations and as composer for a BBC documentary series. He has also established bands for corporate events, weddings and award ceremonies.
Stephanie Schwarze
Stephanie is very excited to be part of the prestigious ASPIRE International Youth Music Festival and is looking forward to creating extraordinary experiences for the students and everyone else involved.
Jamie Wansey
Over the last thirteen years Jamie has proudly organised over 500 successful music trips, sports tours and educational trips. Jamie is owner – founder of Student Horizons and is proud the festival will help to promote and support the Student Horizons Foundation for disadvantaged youth.
Brooke Wansey
If anyone on the ASPIRE team knows about music, competition and travel it has to be Brooke; an experienced alto Saxophone player. Brooke played Saxophone throughout her college years from training in Year 7 through to performing in the Concert and Jazz bands.
Diana Alfonso
Diana is very proud to be part of ASPIRE 2019 and aims that every student that participates in the festival gets an unforgettable experience.
Xiaojing Lin
As a big fan of music, Lynx has learned piano for 5 years as well as the basics of guitar and flute. She formed an A Capella group with her friends in 2016 and participated in many music performances in college. She is also very passionate about writing her own songs in her spare time.
Aspire 2019
Concert Band Adjudicators
ASPIRE International Youth Music Festival is proud to announce Dr Jack Stamp, an exceptional guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and composer of international repute, and Jodie Blackshaw, an Australian composer with a portfolio of works exclusively written for the wind band genus as the official 2019 ASPIRE concert band adjudicators.
Orchestra Adjudicators
ASPIRE is pleased to announce Victoria Jacono-Gilmovich, Founder and Director of the Inner West Institute of Music, which is based in numerous locations in Sydney’s inner west, and Marc Taddei, Director of Music for the Vallejo Symphony, one of California’s oldest orchestras as the official adjudicators for the 2019 Festival’s Orchestra section.
Jazz Band Adjudicators
Mace Francis, a young band leader on the rise, based in Western Australia, and Andrea Keller, a pianist and composer dedicated to the performance and creation of contemporary jazz and improvised music, are our Jazz Band adjudicators for the 2019 ASPIRE International Youth Music Festival.
Choir Adjudicators
We are proud to announce Dan Walker, one of Australia’s most in-demand choral specialists and David Lawrence, one of the UK’s most versatile conductors who holds the Guinness World Record for conducting the UK’s largest choir as the official adjudicators for the 2019 Festival’s Choir Section.
Aspire 2019 Venue
The Star Gold Coast
Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia
The theatre at The Star Gold Coast is one of the largest multi-functional theatres in Queensland, and it was important to ASPIRE when choosing a venue that all the students be able to participate under the same roof. The team believes that this will encourage and strengthen the connectedness that is already such a valued part of this international music festival.
2019 Location
GOLD COAST – AUSTRALIA’S PREMIERE HOLIDAY DESTINATION
ASPIRE’s move to the Gold Coast represents an opportunity for an experience the whole family can enjoy. The Gold Coast is one of Australia’s premiere family holiday destinations, with the sun-soaked climate, breathtaking scenery and multiple theme parks drawing millions of tourists to its shores every year. The City of Gold Coast is a hive of creativity, with street art, dedicated cultural spaces, live music initiatives, and many arts and music festivals throughout the year showing its strong and proactive support for local talent.
2019 Partners
Principle Partners
bronze sponsors
Apparel Supplier
Trophey Supplier
Media Partner
Supporting Partners
