Amplify Summit brings Victoria’s next generation to Melbourne Recital Centre

More than 300 young people from across Victoria gathered at Melbourne Recital Centre on April 13 for this year’s Amplify Summit, a major youth music industry event aimed at building skills, confidence and pathways into the arts, events and live music sectors.

Presented by youth music organisation The Push in partnership with Melbourne Recital Centre (MRC), the summit brought together participants from 61 Amplify Committees spanning metropolitan, regional and rural communities, many of them meeting face-to-face for the first time.

Held for the second consecutive year at the Southbank venue, the free event offered a full day of workshops, conversations and networking, connecting young people directly with artists and industry professionals while helping them develop practical, real-world skills.

The summit is part of The Push’s broader Amplify program, which supports young people to plan and produce all-ages live music events in their own communities. Through the program, participants gain hands-on experience across artist booking, event promotion, sound production and show management.

For MRC, the event reflects a growing role not just as a performance venue, but as a place for learning, access and participation in the arts.

Chief executive Sandra Willis said the summit aligned closely with the centre’s broader mission.

“Melbourne Recital Centre exists to connect people through live music, and that includes creating meaningful opportunities for the next generation to engage, learn and participate,” she said.

“Bringing together and investing in young people from across metropolitan, regional and rural communities creates a powerful sense of connection, and opens up pathways into an industry that can sometimes feel out of reach.”

The Push chief executive Kate Duncan said the annual gathering remained an important part of helping young people build both skills and confidence.

“They leave with real experience, new networks and the confidence to turn ideas into something tangible.”

For participants, the summit also offered a rare chance to connect with peers from across the state in a professional setting.

Geelong Amplify Committee member Taya Barbuto said the program had already helped shape her own pathway into the music industry.

“Having attended the summit over the past few years, I’ve had the chance to try different roles and get a real sense of what working in the music industry could look like,” she said.

“I now run social media promoting local gigs in Geelong and manage content for a couple of bands, so it’s been a really practical pathway.” 

The Amplify program is supported by the Victorian Government, with the summit highlighting a shared commitment to nurturing the next generation of music talent and ensuring young people across the state can see a future for themselves in the industry. •