Your child's music journey of excellence and faith
Imagine young Christians, aged 13 to 19, embarking on an incredible musical adventure right in the heart of Sydney's CBD – a journey that's transformative and deeply enriching
A Warm Message from Our Director
From Roxanne Heng, Programs and Events Director
We are absolutely bursting with excitement to announce the upcoming launch of the AChA Youth Orchestra & Choir, kicking off in May 2026!
This isn't just another program; it's a truly special opportunity for young Christian musicians aged 13-19, right here in Sydney's CBD to deepen their musical talents and nurture their faith in a dynamic, supportive environment.
Imagine a place where your child can freely express themselves through music, forge incredible, lasting friendships, and embark on a journey of spiritual growth all at once. We're dedicated to creating that vibrant, inspiring space. We wholeheartedly invite your talented young musician to join us, share their unique gifts, and help create something truly magnificent together. We simply can't wait to welcome them into our musical family.
Discover Our Program
What about faith? Is my child required to be Christian?
Your child doesn't need to be Christian; however, we do kindly ask that all of our youth respect the Christian faith. They should also feel comfortable being part of events that have an evangelistic flavour and be open to support the core beliefs outlined in the Apostles' Creed.
Who can join us:
The AChA Youth Orchestra and Choir is thrilled to welcome talented young musicians aged 13–19.
If your child is passionate about growing their musical abilities and deepening their faith, this is the perfect place for them.
We offer a truly unique opportunity for secondary school students across Sydney to flourish in a wonderfully supportive Christian environment, all while forging incredible, lasting friendships who share their musical passion.
When & Where:
Rehearsals: Join us fortnightly on Thursdays from 5:00pm–7:00pm (check out the full rehearsal schedule here).
Location: Sydney CBD (the venue will be announced soon) easy to get to, with excellent train and bus access.
Your Child's Musical Journey: A Path to Brilliance
Imagine young musicians on a fantastic journey with our Youth Orchestra and Youth Choir offering a dynamic experience tailored for teens aged 13-19. Every step is designed to help them blossom, gaining not just incredible music skills, but also rock-solid confidence and a deeper understanding. After a truly thriving stage together they will also have the opportunity to join our adult ensembles at 18.
Spark Their Talent
Regular rehearsals and concerts throughout the year
Develop fundamental skills in performance practice, whilst learning to play in an ensemble
Leadership training
Mastering being a supportive ensemble player
Opportunity for selection for chamber ensemble performances
Opportunities for commissioned compositions
Opportunities to develop conducting skills
Regular sight-singing and sight-reading workshops
Making a meaningful connection between God and great music
Ready for Our Senior Programs (Age 18+)
Seamlessly join our inspiring Adult Orchestra & Choir
Performance opportunities as leading soloists
Exposure to wide variety of musical styles and repertoire
Collaborations with guest Christian artists
This program is all about helping your child shine. We pour our energy into developing those crucial ensemble skills, building their performance confidence, and making sure they're perfectly ready for the exciting challenges of our adult ensembles. They'll receive dedicated mentorship every step of the way, with clear milestones and inspiring goals that truly open them for a lifetime of joyful participation in Christian ministry through music.
Unlock Their Musical Journey: Your Investment & Our Flexible Pricing
$999
Special Welcome Price
Grab an incredible saving of $300 for 2026 only (normally 1200).
10%
Family Concert Fun
Enjoy a special discount off all concert tickets for your entire family, because music is best shared!
Payment Made Easy: You can choose to pay the full fee upfront or spread the cost across four convenient monthly instalments to cover the entire year's program with our friendly "Pay in 4" plan. Just 4 simple payments, and you're all set for the whole year – no recurring subscriptions. Here's how it breaks down:
Multi-Child Discounts
One Musician (Pay in 4)
Just $249.75 per month for 4 months only
(A total of $999 for a full year)
Two Musicians (Pay in 4)
Only $399.60 per month for 4 months only (20% discount per child)
(A total amount for a full year $1598.40)
Three Musicians + (Pay in 4)
Only $524.50 per month for 4 months only (30% discount per child)
(A total amount for a full year $2.097.9o)
We Believe in Every Child: Financial Hardship Sponsorships: We're passionate about making sure every child has the chance to shine. If your family is facing financial hardship, please know that sponsorships are available to ensure your child can absolutely be a part of our program. Reach out to us – we'd love to help!
ACYO Audition Process
Stage 1: Video Audition ( pre-selection)
Video audition fee
- Voice $50
- Main Instrument $50
- Auxiliary Instrument free
Stage 2: Live Audition (via invitation)
Only shortlisted candidates will receive an invitation to attend a live audition
Every Child Shines: Our Warm Welcome to All Young Musicians
We truly believe every young musician deserves a chance to shine, and that's why we pour our hearts into creating a wonderfully inclusive environment. We warmly welcome young people with additional needs, including our incredible neurodivergent talents.
We absolutely love partnering with families, taking the time to truly understand each young person's unique needs. This allows us to lovingly provide just the right accommodations, supporting your child's participation where they could truly flourish in our orchestra and choir.
If your child has additional needs, please don't hesitate to reach out. We'd be so happy to chat with you about how we can best support them in our special program.
Auditions & What We're Looking For
We're absolutely thrilled to welcome talented young musicians into our program!
To make sure we keep our musical standards sky-high while still being a warm and welcoming home for budding artists, we will have an audition process with two stages. The first stage is a recorded submission, allowing them to truly shine and show off their very best abilities. The second and final stage will be a live audition for those invited.
We want you to know that our audition process is all about encouragement and growth, not chasing perfection right now. We're truly looking for young musicians who are committed, eager to learn, and have a genuine passion to grow in their craft, all while sharing their God-given talents through music. We believe in potential!
Your Child's Musical Moment
We ask parents to help their child record themselves playing or singing two contrasting pieces, one technical and one expressive, that showcases their highest musical ability on their instrument.
Orchestra: Ready to Play with the Best?
We're building something truly world-class, and we'd love for your instrumentalist to be a part of it!
For our orchestra, we're looking for musicians who are at minimum Grade 6 AMEB on their instrument when they audition.
Choir: Let Your Voice Soar
Our choir is also reaching for world-class excellence! If your child is a vocalist, we'd love to hear them in their video audition submission. The live audition day will include a sight-singing test. Students should demonstrate strong pitch accuracy, musicality, an awareness of singing with others, and a lovely, quality tone. Come share your gift with us!
Our Thoughtful Selection Process
The selection process will be held by our Youth Conductors, alongside our dedicated Youth Executive Committee and Program Directors. We will carefully review every submission to decide who will join our musical family.
Stepping Up: Principal Positions
We believe in nurturing leadership! Principal positions within our youth programs will rotate, giving multiple talented young people the chance to develop and showcase their leadership abilities throughout the year.
The very first principal roles will be decided and announced before our first rehearsal. This will involve a special online interview with our Programs Director, for both the parent and the youth, to find the best fit.
Video Submission link (?)
Set of questions for parents and students:
- Parents - what do you hope for your child to achieve and experience through participation in this program?
- Students - why do want to be part of this program?
- Students - have you been in a choir or orchestra before?
- Students - how long have you been learning your instrument? Have you learnt any other instruments?
Audition Key Dates for 2026
Applications Open:
Applications Close:
Audition excerpts available here:
Video Submissions Open:
Video Submission Close:
Late video Submissions Close:
Offers and Scholarship Results Sent:
Excerpts to be presented at live audition only.
Making Every Moment Count: Your Child's Journey to Shining on Stage
Attendance Policy
- Your child needs to be with us for at least 80% of rehearsals to truly shine on stage.
- We totally get that life happens! So, we have 'holds' and 'freezes' ready for those unavoidable or truly exceptional moments.
- Refer to attendance policy here
Your Child's Moment to Shine
To make sure every performance is absolutely magical and that every young musician feels confident and ready, your child needs to attend at least 80% of rehearsals for each concert cycle. This isn't just a rule; it's how we ensure everyone feels prepared and that our ensemble sounds incredible.
We know life can throw curveballs – sniffles, family adventures, school events. That's why we’ve built in flexibility with 'holds' and 'freezes' for those exceptional, unforeseen circumstances. You can find all the specifics in our friendly attendance policy
We're Here to Support You
Our attendance policy isn't just about standards; it's wrapped in care and understanding. If your child faces a long illness, a big family event, or any other significant challenge, please chat with our leadership team early on. We're here to work with you and find the best solutions together.
That 80% attendance minimum allows for a bit of wiggle room for those unexpected absences, while still ensuring that every young musician who steps onto that stage has had plenty of rehearsal time. This means they can contribute beautifully to the ensemble and, most importantly, truly enjoy their successful performance.
Your Child's 2026 Schedule
We're absolutely thrilled to announce our 2026 season, packed with two incredible concert cycles, each culminating in a spectacular, professional performance. Our young musicians will rehearse every Thursday evening, with special technical and dress rehearsals leading up to each big show.
Our Mid-Year Concert (August)
7 May (Thu) — Rehearsal 5:00–7:00pm
21 May (Thu) — Rehearsal 5:00–7:00pm
4 Jun (Thu) — Rehearsal 5:00–7:00pm
18 Jun (Thu) — Rehearsal 5:00–7:00pm
2 Jul (Thu) — Rehearsal 5:00–7:00pm
16 Jul (Thu) — Rehearsal 5:00–7:00pm
23 Jul (Thu) — Rehearsal 5:00–7:00pm
30 Jul (Thu) — Tech run 5:00–7:15pm
1 Aug (Sat) — Call 1:00pm. Full dress 1:30–3:30pm. Show 4:00–5:15pm
The End-of-Year Grand Finale Concert (November)
3 Sept (Thu) — Rehearsal 5:00–7:00pm
17 Sept (Thu) — Rehearsal 5:00–7:00pm
1 Oct (Thu) — Rehearsal 5:00–7:00pm
15 Oct (Thu) — Rehearsal 5:00–7:00pm
29 Oct (Thu) — Rehearsal 5:00–7:00pm
5 Nov (Thu) — Rehearsal 5:00–7:00pm
12 Nov (Thu) — General rehearsal 5:00–7:00pm
19 Nov (Thu) — Tech run 5:00–7:15pm
21 Nov (Sat) — Call 1:00pm. Full dress 1:30–3:30pm. Show 4:00–5:15pm
Ensuring Your Child's Bright Future: Safety and Support Every Step of the Way
Nothing matters more to us than the precious young people in our programs. From the moment they walk through our doors, their safety and well-being are at the very top of our list. We've poured our hearts into creating a truly secure and nurturing environment, building in thoughtful safeguards and child protection practices every step of the way.
Youth-Only Zones.
We keep our youth ensembles completely separate from adult programs. That means no combined rehearsals or performances – just a vibrant, age-appropriate space where your child can thrive and be themselves.
Our Leaders
Our youth programs are always buzzing with dedicated leaders and supervisors who are there for your child every step of the way. And don't worry, we have crystal-clear child-protection guidelines even for those brief, casual moments in shared spaces.
Smart Scheduling for Safety
You'll notice we've carefully scheduled youth and adult rehearsals at different times on the same day. This thoughtful planning minimises any overlap and ensures healthy, appropriate boundaries are always maintained between age groups.
Working With Children Checks (WWCC)
Rest assured, every single leader and person in authority within our youth programs holds a current Working With Children Check. While senior orchestra members don't need WWCCs for 2026, anyone who leads, teaches, or holds authority in youth programs absolutely does. Your child's safety is our priority.
We believe in full transparency, which is why our complete child safety guidelines and policies are always available for you to review at christianarts.community/childsafety. We genuinely encourage all parents to take a peek at these comprehensive guidelines to truly understand how deeply committed we are to creating the safest, most nurturing and encouraging environment for your young people to flourish!