This episode marks a departure from our usual format as we delve into an initiative close to my heart: RESONATE, a programme I've developed with the Australian Youth Orchestra through my consultancy. Rather than interviewing established cultural leaders, we're hearing directly from the next generation of classical musicians who are actively reshaping the industry from within.

In this participant-led conversation, violist and composer Sophia Mackson, harpist and composer Paul Nicolaou, and French horn player Milly McAuliffe engage in a candid discussion about neurodivergence in orchestral music. Facilitated by Julia Hill, these four young musicians don't just theorise about inclusion - they're living it, advocating for it, and creating new models for how classical music can embrace neurodivergent artists and audiences.

What You'll Hear

The conversation moves seamlessly between personal experiences and practical solutions, covering:

• Understanding neurodivergence - Moving beyond stereotypes to recognise the full spectrum of ADHD, autism, and other conditions, and how they manifest differently in each individual
• Executive dysfunction in practice - How time blindness, motivation challenges, and decision-making difficulties affect everything from daily practice routines to orchestral rehearsals
• Navigating orchestral etiquette - The unspoken rules that can be particularly challenging for neurodivergent musicians, from section hierarchy to break room dynamics
• Transformative teaching approaches - How supportive educators like Patricia Pollet and Alice Giles create inclusive learning environments by adapting to individual needs rather than enforcing rigid methods
• Innovative performance design - Paul's groundbreaking "Elemental Resonance" concert, which used sensory elements to create accessible experiences for neurodivergent, elderly, and young audiences
• Institutional culture change - Why policies aren't enough when workplace culture remains exclusionary, and how freelance networking disadvantages neurodivergent musicians
• The diagnosis journey - Honest accounts of seeking assessment, facing dismissive healthcare providers, and the validation that comes with understanding oneself
• Workplace accommodations - From access riders to adequate break times, practical strategies that benefit all musicians whilst supporting specific needs

Key Insights

"I think accessibility and accommodations should be the baseline... should be a fundamental in rehearsals, but also just talking to people." - Sophia Mackson

"The effort that organisations are putting in isn't for this one tiny group, it's for everyone, which includes this tiny group." - Paul Nicolaou

"Just assume that there is someone in your ensemble that is neurodivergent. We know the statistics mean that's incredibly likely, if not certain." - Milly McAuliffe

"Your experiences are valid and they're real... you know yourself better than anyone else." - Paul Nicolaou

Why This Matters

This conversation represents a generational shift in classical music. These musicians aren't waiting for permission to create change - they're composing, performing, teaching, and advocating with neurodivergence as part of their artistic identity. Their insights challenge the classical music establishment to move beyond token gestures towards genuine inclusion.

The RESONATE programme itself demonstrates how the Australian Youth Orchestra is fostering these essential conversations, giving young musicians the platform and support to shape their industry's future.

Links

Australian Youth Orchestra: www.ayo.com.au

Tamra Kohler: www.tamarakohler.com/about

Paul Nicolaou: [social media/website if available]

Connect with Decoding Cultural Leadership on social media

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Presenter and research: Sam Cairnduff

Creative Director: Niloofar Pashmforoosh

Presented in association with Limelight

Decoding Cultural Leadership |
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Simon Hinton has been Artistic Director and CEO of Merrigong Theatre Company in Wollongong since 2005. Under his leadership, Merrigong has grown from a presenting venue into Australia’s largest regional producing theatre company. With a deep commitment to community, First Nations engagement, and supporting independent artists, Simon has become one of the country’s most respected regional arts leaders.

In this episode, Simon reflects on two decades of cultural leadership and what it takes to sustain a regional company that balances commercial realities with artistic ambition. The conversation explores his philosophy of governance, his advocacy for ethical and values-based leadership, and the ways in which Merrigong’s programs—especially MERRIGONGX—nurture and empower independent artists.

We also discuss how regional contexts can keep organisations grounded, why long-term community embeddedness matters, and how arts organisations must respond to challenges such as post-COVID recovery, sustainability, and the disruptive potential of AI. Simon shares candid insights into the importance of holding space for ambiguity and resisting the polarisation of public discourse, positioning culture as a rare arena where diverse perspectives can meet.

Key Discussion Points

• Simon’s 20-year journey leading Merrigong Theatre Company
  
  
  
• Building a producing company in a regional context
  
  
  
• Rethinking governance and the need for moral leadership in the arts
  
  
  
• Embedding First Nations voices and self-determined programming
  
  
  
• The development and impact of the MERRIGONGX artist program
  
  
  
• Balancing community use, commercial viability, and artistic innovation
  
  
  
• Post-COVID reflections on how the sector values artists
  
  
  
• The challenges of sustainability, cultural ecology, and sector competition
  
  
  
• AI, polarisation, and the responsibility of the arts to hold space for ambiguity
  
  
  

Memorable Quotes

• “It’s not really measured in years. It’s measured in decades… this is a deep tilling of the earth and a planting of seeds to change the cultural landscape.”
  
  
  
• “We need to work at the speed of trust.”
  
  
  
• “Maybe we’ll be the last people that hold some space for silence and contemplation, where differing views can coexist.”
  
  
  

Links

• Merrigong Theatre Company
  
  
  
• MERRIGONGX
  
  
  
• BlakDance
  
  
  
• NORPA
  
  
  
• Create NSW
  
  
  

Connect with Decoding Cultural Leadership
Instagram: @DCLPod
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Follow us on Substack: Decoding Cultural Leadership
Email: sc@samuelcairnduff.com
www.samuelcairnduff.com

Presenter and research: Dr Samuel Cairnduff

Connect with Decoding Cultural Leadership on social media

Instagram, Threads, X/Twitter:

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sc@samuelcairnduff.com

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@samuelcairnduff

Read Sam's Substack here.

Presenter and research: Sam Cairnduff

Creative Director: Niloofar Pashmforoosh

Presented in association with Limelight

Decoding Cultural Leadership |
Culture. Society. Conversations

Due to recent events at Bendigo Writers Festival, we felt it timely to release this episode, recorded earlier this year.

Sam reconnects with Rosemarie Milsom, founding director of Newcastle Writers Festival, whose crisis management approach offers a masterclass in ethical cultural leadership. With journalism experience and current role as Walkley Book Award panel chair, Rosemarie navigated unprecedented challenges whilst maintaining commitment to diverse voices.

Crisis Leadership

Following October 7, 2023, Rosemarie faced escalating tensions with programmed writers holding opposing Israel-Palestine views. The situation required police intervention, including tactical response teams.

Her approach emphasised stakeholder engagement over public statements - tailored communication strategies and proactive consultation months before controversy emerged. Despite intense social media campaigns and direct threats, she maintained the festival's commitment to all invited writers without losing a single artist.

Cultural Leadership Insights

Rosemarie contrasts her approach with recent institutional retreats, arguing many leaders abandon missions due to fear. Her perspective proves powerful given her background as a Bosnian Muslim who lost family to genocide, yet demonstrates separating personal feelings from professional responsibilities.

The festival operates without major donors, building grassroots support whilst maintaining ethical positions like refusing coal industry funding.

Key Quotes

"If you start removing artists from what you do, it's a really slippery slope."

"When you're in a leadership position, if you let fear govern your existence, then I think you probably shouldn't be in a leadership position."

Links

Newcastle Writers Festival: https://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/

Connect with Decoding Cultural Leadership Instagram: @DCLPod | Threads: @DCLPod | X: @DCLPod Email: sc@samuelcairnduff.com | www.samuelcairnduff.com

Presenter and research: Dr Samuel Cairnduff

Connect with Decoding Cultural Leadership on social media

Instagram, Threads, X/Twitter:

@DCLPod

sc@samuelcairnduff.com

samuelcairnduff.com

@samuelcairnduff

Read Sam's Substack here.

Presenter and research: Sam Cairnduff

Creative Director: Niloofar Pashmforoosh

Presented in association with Limelight

Decoding Cultural Leadership |
Culture. Society. Conversations