From the school hall to the national stage

Harry Macpherson played trombone in the band all throughout his schooling in Orange. Now, he gets to live his dream of playing his instrument on a national stage. 

This year, Harry has assumed the position of principal bass trombone with the Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO). The AYO has a reputation for being one of the world’s most prestigious and innovative training organisations for young pre-professional musicians. Instrumentalists who are part of AYO have the opportunity to work and train alongside industry professionals, as well as travel Australia and perform at a range of venues and events. 

For Harry, learning the passion for music from his parents, and watching a number of concerts at the Orange Regional Conservatorium, prompted him to pick up the trombone.

“Through that I ended up picking up trombones and I loved the slide, that’s the main reason anyone picks up trombone,” Harry said.  “I do remember the initial picking up of it. I just found it really fun.”

Harry played in the Orange High School band throughout his schooling, before graduating in 2018. He said his love for the instrument stemmed from the hours he spent playing there. 

“I specialised specifically in the tenor trombone [at school], that’s the one everyone kind of knows, the normal one,” Harry explained.

“But then in the second year of my degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, which I just recently finished, I switched over to bass trombone, I’m in that full-time now.” 

Harry auditioned for a role in the AYO six times before his successful attempt. With only one bass trombone in the orchestra, the position was incredibly competitive. 

“I think the first time I ever auditioned for it was in Year 11,” Harry said. 

“There’s only one bass trombone in the orchestra, and only two tenors, so even that was relatively competitive. So in that regard, I suppose I was fortunate enough to get in.”

The experience has so far been nothing short of incredible for Harry. 

“It’s been a good opportunity, I’ve been keen on doing it for a very long time. In the end, it worked well to pick it up,” he said. “It was always one of the huge things to aim for, as an under 25-year-old.”

Harry has already completed two programmes with AYO, including their first season, which took him to Hobart earlier this year. Performing at Federation Concert Hall, Hotel Grand Chancellor, Harry said the concert titled ‘Turbulent Times’ was a spectacular display. 

“It had excellent low brass tuba parts. That was a really amazing opportunity.”

But the world of music performance is not new to Harry.

For four years, Harry has been the principal bass trombonist for the Sydney Youth Orchestra. He has also previously made appearances with the Sydney Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra (including a 2022 European tour, the Ku-Ring-Gai Philharmonic Orchestra, Sydney Concert Orchestra, Sydney Metropolitan Orchestra), the North Shore Wind Symphony, and a number of other groups around Sydney. 

Currently performing and teaching around Sydney, Harry is looking forward to the upcoming AYO season to take place in Melbourne in July. 

Until then, Harry wants aspiring musicians to realise just how important it is to just give things a go. 

“Go and audition for these kinds of things,”  he said. “I didn't audition for a lot of this kind of stuff until I really got into years 11 and 12. And that was kind of when I really discovered I was passionate about continuing. I wish I'd really gotten into a lot of it a lot sooner!”