Life as an ACO Emerging Artist

Violinist and 2026 Emerging Artist Theonie Wang has spent the past nine months being mentored by ACO Principal Violin Helena Rathbone. We spoke to both musicians about what they've learned from each other, the value of chamber music and why the ACO Emerging Artist Program continues to shape the next generation of Australian string musicians.

Helena, why has the Emerging Artist Program been so successful in producing professional musicians?

HELENA RATHBONE: One of the reasons the program is so successful is that it's much more than a single year of training. We have a huge pool of wonderful alumni players who often get invited back to play after their EA year. Every year we audition young musicians from around the country and select extraordinary talent, the cream of the crop. Often we're drawn to a player not because their technique is fabulous but because we've seen something special in them, in their musical soul and how they convey the music and that’s what makes them stand out.

As mentors, we're not replacing their teachers. Almost all of them are still studying and therefore already have excellent teachers. Instead, we're helping guide them and sharing the experience of being a professional musician.

I remember how valuable it was to play alongside professional musicians when I was their age. In some ways, I gained as much from those experiences as I did from violin lessons. That's one of the most important things this program offers: the opportunity to play with the ACO and experience professional music-making from the inside.

The Emerging Artists aren't observing from the sidelines. They're part of rehearsals, performances and conversations about what it's really like to build a career as a musician. The performing experience itself is invaluable.

At its heart, the ACO is all about chamber music. It's like an extended string quartet. Everyone has a voice and everyone contributes. That's a very different experience from practising concertos or scales alone in a practice room or sitting in a huge Symphony Orchestra section.

There's certainly no shortage of talent in Australia. We have remarkable young musicians in this country. I always encourage them to spend time overseas - those experiences can be enormously valuable, both musically and personally. But hopefully many of them come back, because they'll be the next generation of the ACO. That’s a very exciting thought.

What does being a mentor in the Emerging Artist Program mean to you?

HR: For me, having been involved since the Program's inception, the Emerging Artist Program is probably the thing at the ACO that I'm most proud of. Playing alongside these young musicians is incredibly inspiring and it certainly keeps us on our toes.

I genuinely enjoy the role of mentor and see it as my way of giving back. It's a privilege to share what I've learned and help guide the next generation of musicians as they begin their professional journeys.

Theonie, what lesson from Helena will stay with you into your professional career?

THEONIE WANG: All of my violin lessons with Helena will stay with me, but I’m constantly learning from her beyond our one-on-one lessons. Just standing next to her and playing together has taught me so much about how to be a better chamber musician, how to listen, communicate and respond to the people around me.
Even our conversations outside of rehearsals have been lessons for me. She has such a wealth of experience and is incredibly generous in sharing it, and I know I’ll carry that knowledge with me throughout my career. One quality of Helena’s that I hope stays with me most, though, is her humility and generosity of character.

Helena, you've been a mentor for 21 years. What makes you keep coming back?

HR: Every year brings a new group of talented young players, and every year is different. One of the most rewarding parts of being a mentor is watching these musicians grow, both as players and as people, throughout the year.

It's always exciting to see how they develop and to play a small part in that growth.

Theonie, what were your first thoughts when you found out you would be mentored by Helena?

TW: My first thought was, “There’s no way.” I remember lining my finger up from my name to Helena’s name multiple times just to make absolutely sure I was reading it correctly. I was ecstatic and couldn’t wait to learn from someone I’ve admired so much as a musician. There’s something really special about her presence as a musician and as a person, so the idea that I was going to get to work closely with her was pretty surreal.