About YMF

The Youth Music Foundation of Australia Inc. is a voluntary arts organisation and facilitates performance opportunities and overseas study for Australian musicians.
YMF fosters music by providing assistance for musicians, educators and students in a wide variety of ways.
Listed on the Federal Government’s Register of Charitable Organisations and donations over two dollars to the YMF Awards Fund are tax deductible.

Members of Council

President: Andrew Katona 
Vice President: Jennifer Clarke
Council Secretary: Olivia Collins
Secretary/Treasurer: Lino Bresciani OAM
Di Bresciani OAM
Elizabeth Angelatos
Igor Zambelli

Patron for Australia

Merron Jean Kirby OAM

Merron Jean Kirby (Mem) was awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia (OAM) on the 26th January 2007. The citation from the Governor General of Australia, on behalf of the Queen of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, stated `For service to the arts as an administrator, fund raiser and philanthropist: and to the community through health, aged care and welfare organisations’. We are fortunate indeed to have the endorsement of Mem Kirby, a leading citizen, who has been recognized in this way.

Patron for New Zealand

Dame Adrienne Stewart ONZM QSM LittD (Hon)

Dame Adrienne Stewart is a long standing supporter, promoter, fund-raiser and patron of many arts organization in New Zealand and Australia.   In 2010 Dame Adrienne became a Life Member of the Youth Music Foundation of Australia (YMf) and agreed to be named YMf Patron for New Zealand.   In 2015 Dame Adrienne was appointed a Dame by the Governor General of New Zealand.

International Patron

Piers Lane AO

Piers Lane is YMF’s international patron. He assumed the position from the late Sir Frank Callaway.  London-based Australian pianist Piers Lane AO has a worldwide reputation as an engaging, searching and highly versatile performer, at home equally in solo, chamber and concerto repertoire. Recent seasons saw him perform three different concerti at Carnegie Hall, and the world premieres of Carl Vine’s second Piano Concerto and Double Piano Concerto Implacable Gifts, both written for him, with the London Philharmonic and Sydney, Tasmanian and West Australian symphony orchestras. Highlights of the 2019/20 season included engagements with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and performances of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.1 with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for Sir Andrew Davis’s final appearances as its Chief Conductor. The 20/21 season includes concerto engagements with the Sydney Symphony, national tours of Australia with the Goldner String Quartet and tenor Joseph Calleja, appearances at several US festivals, including Bard Music, a January 2nd recital at Wigmore Hall, duo performances with violinist Tasmin Little throughout the UK and further performances of Admission: One Shilling with actress Dame Patricia Routledge. Five times soloist at the BBC Proms, Piers Lane’s concerto repertoire exceeds one hundred works. He has recorded over sixty CDs, primarily with Hyperion Records. His 2020 releases include piano concertos by Bliss, Rubbra, Bax and Walter Braunfels, a British sonata disc with Tasmin Little, and an eleventh disc of piano quintets with the Goldner Quartet. Piers is the Artistic Director of the Sydney International Piano Competition. In the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Honours, he was made an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO).

FOUNDING INTERNATIONAL PATRON

The Late Sir Frank Callaway AO CMG OBE

INTERNATIONAL PATRON

Dr Piers Lane AO

FOUNDING PATRON FOR AUSTRALIA

The Late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE

PATRON FOR AUSTRALIA

Merron Kirby OAM

PATRON FOR NEW ZEALAND

Dame Adrienne Stewart ONZM QSM

FOUNDER, GOVERNOR AND
HONORARY MANAGING DIRECTOR

Dr Di Bresciani OAM

AFFILIATIONS AND/OR
STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS

The University of Melbourne 

Melbourne Conservatorium and Victorian College of the Arts 

Manhattan School of Music, NY 

Royal Academy of Music, London 

Royal College of Music, London 

British School at Rome 

Music and Opera Singers Trust 

Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia

AWARDS

YMF Opera Award (biennial)

British School at Rome Award (biennial)

YMF Kathy Avdiev Memorial Award

University College Melbourne

Best Australian Pianist at Sydney International

Piano Competition of Australia

Best Recital Australian Young Performers Awards (biennial)

Melbourne Youth Orchestras Virtuosic Competition

AMBASSADORS

Cheryl Barker AO

Peter Coleman-Wright AO

Mary Lees

Joyce Bennett OAM

Maria Prendergast OAM

Nancy Staub Little

YMF Australia acknowledges and pays respects to the traditional owners of the land, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, on whose land our organisation is situated. We pay respect to their Elders past and present, and recognise the rich traditions and continuing creative cultures of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia.