Australian Art Orchestra

Australian Art Orchestra Music made of many influences, exploring the meeting points between cultures and disciplines

We’re halfway through our first week in Indonesia delivering the first CMI International in Yogyakarta. What an amazing ...
17/06/2026

We’re halfway through our first week in Indonesia delivering the first CMI International in Yogyakarta. What an amazing experience sharing practice across our Australian and Indonesia participants at the Institut Seni Indonesia. The cultural exchange, building of shared artistic languages and deep creative engagement have been inspiring to witness and we’re excited to see what the rest of the week reveals.



📸 Jo Redfearn

This weekend AAO travels to Yogyakarta for an exciting week of performances and musical exploration.From Monday, for the...
12/06/2026

This weekend AAO travels to Yogyakarta for an exciting week of performances and musical exploration.

From Monday, for the first time, we are thrilled to be delivering the Creative Intensive International, which this year is held in partnership with Institute Seni Indonesia and Project Eleven.

We will also be developing a new work with the shadow puppet and dance departments of ISI featuring incredible Indonesian punk artist Soni Irawan.

The week concludes with the world premiere of Aaron Choulai’s new work Smoke Between Mountains at ARTJOG.

We’ll be sharing moments along the tour over the next week, so stay tuned!



🖼 & 📸 by Ruby Song

SONIC CITY 2026 Program is now live! As part of the program we’re excited to launch our new podcast AAO Listening Room h...
03/06/2026

SONIC CITY 2026 Program is now live! As part of the program we’re excited to launch our new podcast AAO Listening Room hosted by Sose Fuamoli, as well as incredible performances from Vahideh Eisaiei and Ying Yang, Barney McAll, Margie Lou Dyer Quartet and the Australian Art Orchestra.

As part of the day AAO will premiere Smoke between Mountains, a new work from Artistic Director Aaron Choulai featuring Adam Manning, Miyama McQueen-Tokita and an ensemble of 9. The event finishes at Robot Bar where audiences can gather with artists to unwind and celebrate the end of a day-long creative music experience.

This year we’re introducing Sonic City passport where you can collect stamps by attending at events and partnering businesses to unlock rewards and enjoy some of the amazing food and retail experiences our city has to offer.

For tickets and more information visit link in bio.

Proudly supported by City of Melbourne

AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE: Smoke Between Mountains, 8 July 2026. As part of SONIC CITY, Aaron Choulai’s new work for the AAO w...
01/06/2026

AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE: Smoke Between Mountains, 8 July 2026. As part of SONIC CITY, Aaron Choulai’s new work for the AAO will have its Australian premiere at The Long Room, in the Immigration Museum on Wednesday 8 July at 7:30pm.

Composed for an ensemble of nine musicians, Smoke Between Mountains traces a dreamlike narrative against an innovative score that plays with the Ghibli sound world. Against a rich visual backdrop of video art by Michael Carmody, the work unfolds through the voice and koto of Miyama McQueen-Tokita and the percussive storytelling of Adam Manning. Smoke Between Mountains becomes a meditation on connection, between cultures, landscapes, generations and the fragile ecologies that bind them.

📍: The Long Room, Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne
📆: Wednesday 8 July
🕢: 7:30pm

🎟Tickets available via link in bio.

Ensemble
Aaron Choulai - Conductor and Musical Director
Miyama McQueen-Tokita - Voice and Bass Koto
Adam Manning - Percussion
Eugene Ball - Trumpet
Ryan Williams - Recorders
Lizzy Welsh - Violin
Rachel Kim - Violin
Biddy Connor - Viola
Zoe Barry - Cello
Chris Hale - Guitar

Video Design by Michael Carmody



Proudly supported by Museums Victoria and City of Melbourne.

Jibber Jabber Sound Club returns Wednesday 3 June to CASPA gallery with another exciting line-up of creative improviso...
01/06/2026

Jibber Jabber Sound Club returns Wednesday 3 June to CASPA gallery with another exciting line-up of creative improvisors.

This week’s line-up includes:

- Ehsan Gelsi
- Jacques Soddell
- Driftwood

Come down to experience the sonic explorations of their unique artistic practice.

📍 CASPA Gallery, Level 1, 101 Mostyn Street, Castlemaine VIC
📆 Wed 3 June
🕗 8:00pm

Entry is $10 at the door, and free for people 15 years and under.

📸 Sarah Wade

We’re excited to announce the return of SONIC CITY: A citywide journey of creative music, happening on Wednesday 8 July....
28/05/2026

We’re excited to announce the return of SONIC CITY: A citywide journey of creative music, happening on Wednesday 8 July.

Over one day you can experience 6 events across Melbourne’s CBD that celebrate creative music and the artists that contribute to its vibrant culture. From traditional jazz, to a premiere of a new major work, Sonic City 2026 has a something for everyone.

To complete the journey, this year we are partnering with some exciting businesses in the CBD where you can grab a drink and something to eat on the way to one of our free or ticketed events. There will also be giveaways for those attending multiple venues and businesses.

Visit our website for more information: www.aao.com.au



This program is proudly supported by City of Melbourne

Applications for our First Nations Artist in Residence Program close tomorrow, Tuesday 19 May at 6:00pm.Musicians from a...
18/05/2026

Applications for our First Nations Artist in Residence Program close tomorrow, Tuesday 19 May at 6:00pm.

Musicians from all different practices are encouraged to apply. Don't miss this exciting opportunity to create a new work that will be presented at Melbourne International Jazz Festival.

To apply please visit link in bio.

Photo from the performance of Tooni by our 2024 First Nations Artist in Residence, Bumpy.

📸 Roger Mitchell

Jibber Jabber Sound Club returns this coming Wednesday to CASPA gallery with an exciting line-up of creative improvisors...
01/05/2026

Jibber Jabber Sound Club returns this coming Wednesday to CASPA gallery with an exciting line-up of creative improvisors.

This week’s line-up includes:

- Ian Sanadzadeh
- Local Muralist
- Paul Fletcher

Come down to experience the sonic explorations of their unique artistic practice.

📍 CASPA Gallery, Level 1, 101 Mostyn Street, Castlemaine VIC
📆 Wed 6 May
🕗 7:30pm

Entry is $10 at the door, and free for people 15 years and under.

📸 Sarah Wade

It's International Jazz Day and we'd like to share a few glimpses of the incredible pool of improvisers we’re fortunate ...
29/04/2026

It's International Jazz Day and we'd like to share a few glimpses of the incredible pool of improvisers we’re fortunate to collaborate with.

Here's to the articulate, responsive artists who harness improvisation as a shared language to inspire music in the moment and help shape the unique sounds of Australian Jazz.

Happy International Jazz Day!



📸1,4,5 Jo Redfearn; 2 & 7 Cam Matheson; 3 & 6 Toshi Ijuin

A selection of highlights from To Kill A Magic We Got Used To, performed with the Monash Art Ensemble at March’s Big Jaz...
28/04/2026

A selection of highlights from To Kill A Magic We Got Used To, performed with the Monash Art Ensemble at March’s Big Jazz Day Out. It was a privilege to be part of this dynamic program curated by the MPAC team, and to present the culturally coded new work by Aaron Choulai and Roman MC with this incredible ensemble of musicians.

The full concert video of To Kill A Magic We Got Used To, performed by the AAO ensemble in 2025, is also available to watch on Youtube. Find it via the link in our bio.

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The Substation, 1 Market Street
Newport, VIC
3015

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