Passing Notes: An AYO Podcast | Kimbali Harding

In the fourth and final episode of Passing Notes, we sit down with the Australian Youth Orchestra’s own CEO, Kimbali Harding. A highly accomplished pianist, violinist and conductor, Kimbali is now recognised as one of Australia’s foremost musical educators and artistic leaders. This episode dives into Kimbali’s journey as young musician pursuing a career as a concert pianist overseas, returning to Australia and discovering her passion for music education, and her current chapter carving the way for one of the world’s leading arts training organisations—the Australian Youth Orchestra. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Created by harpist-composer and 2026 AYO Media & Communication Fellow, Passing Notes is a podcast which aims to demystify, debunk and explore the diversity of a career in classical music performance. As young performers in Australia, there can often be the idea of a ‘right way’ to go about pursing a successful career in classical performance—a formula or ‘golden path’ which young musicians might feel pressure to conform to. Throughout this miniseries, we learn how in reality, no two pathways look the same. By entering the worlds of some of Australia’s leading performers and artistic thinkers, we hear about what their journey has looked like navigating a career in classical performance. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Music included in this episode: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op.43 by Sergei Rachmaninoff (1934). Valentina Lisitsa, piano; Michael Francis, conductor; London Symphony Orchestra, (2012). “Romanze (Larghetto)” No. 2 from Piano Concerto No.1, Op.11 by Frédéric Chopin (1830). Yundi Li, piano & conductor; Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, (2019). “Rondo (Vivace)” No. 3 from Piano Concerto No.1, Op.11 by Frédéric Chopin (1830). Yundi Li, piano & conductor; Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, (2019)