Damon Poppleton (NSW), Samuel Leong, (NSW), Oscar Bruten (VIC), Justin Yeo (NSW), Johnny Turner (SA) saxophones

Andrew Schwantes (QLD), Josh Ford-King (TAS), Arkie Moore (NSW), Alyssa Sinclair (QLD), Sarah Purdon (NSW) trumpets

Rhys Moore (NSW), Christopher Rozakeas (VIC), Jasmine Hall (SA), Zoe Atkinson (QLD) trombones

Guy Ruse (NSW) guitar

Jacob McCormack (NSW) piano 

Tasha Stevens (SA) contrabass

Jackson Mack (SA) drums & cymbals 

The perfect symbiosis between composition and improvisation: Ross’s work seamlessly integrates fully written material with spontaneous jazz improvisation, making both feel natural and connected. 

Harmonic depth and melodic richness. Ross’s music is noted for its sophisticated harmonies and lyrical lines that blend European and American jazz traditions.

Wide range of styles and genre: From straight-ahead acoustic modern jazz to fusion elements and inventive ensemble writing (solo, trio, big band, orchestral), his output is diverse and exploratory.

Expressive and thoughtful soundscapes: His music is both emotionally engaging and intellectually crafted, often striking a balance between reflective passages and dynamic group interplay. 

The best of Australia’s young jazz musicians aged 18 - 25 from the annually auditioned Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra.

Florian Ross is a musical explorer whose work encompasses the full spectrum of jazz and contemporary improvised music. His musical journey began with studies in Cologne and continued in London and New York, where he refined his unique voice as both a pianist and composer. Rooted in post-bop, his music has evolved into a distinctive language that balances freedom, structure, intellect and emotion.

Since releasing his first album as a leader in 1998, Ross has built an extensive discography of 18 albums and counting. His music resists easy categorisation: deeply felt yet rigorously crafted, it bridges composed and improvised forms without tipping into abstraction or self-indulgence. As a pianist, his touch is grounded and expressive; as a composer, his writing is focused, imaginative and clear-eyed.

Ross’s versatility is striking. He works effortlessly across formats, from solo and small ensembles to big bands and full symphony orchestras. As a performer, composer and arranger, he has collaborated with leading European ensembles including the Metropole Orkest, WDR Big Band and NDR Big Band.

An internationally recognised artist and educator, Ross has taught at numerous universities and academies worldwide and regularly leads workshops and clinics. He is the recipient of major international awards, including first prize at the Danish Radio Big Band International Thad Jones Competition and the WDR Jazz Prize for Composition.

Since October 2021, Florian Ross has served as Professor of Jazz Composition, Arrangement and Theory at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln

The Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra (formerly known at the ANJO Youth Big Band) brings together our brightest and youngest jazz stars, aged 18 - 25, from across the nation. Entry to AJYO is by competitive, blindfold audition with the successful candidates travelling to Sydney for a week-long intensive with the special guest artist in preparation for this concert.

• “Thoughtful jazz; something you can listen to at any time… reflective of a deep synthesis of heart and mind.” — 5 stars 2MBS

• “Closely written and harmonically nuanced, but spacious, upbeat and smile-inducing… a fresh yet timeless sound.” — The Irish Times

• “His arrangements take something everyone knows and give it a twist, make you sit up and pay attention… there’s a lot of imagination there.” — The Guardian