Music in Me
13 October 2025
Honouring a Legacy: Daughters of Penelope Support Music in Me
In November 2024, the Australian Youth Orchestra received a generous $10,000 donation for its Music in Me program from the Daughters of Penelope in Sydney, AHEPA Australia. Sisters Barbara, Maria, and Ann presented the gift in memory of two esteemed members, Chrysanthy Mallos and her daughter, Tessa Mallos.
Chrysanthy was a dedicated member of Chapter Arete No. 3, recognised for over a decade of service as Treasurer. Her commitment to AHEPA’s ideals of community and culture was unwavering. Tessa, a respected actor and one of NIDA’s first graduates, was a passionate advocate for the arts whose work continues to inspire Australian creatives.
Donation impact on 2025 programs
The funds from this donation have gone on to support regional and remote schools in the northern Torres Strait and in South Australia.
Earlier this year, Kathryn McLennan visited the northern end of the Torres Strait Islands – Saibai Island. The journey to get there was not without challenges (connecting flights, weather delays, and lightning storms), but the program has been transformational for Saibai Island’s students and teachers.
For the teachers, Kath’s approach—introducing small, manageable music activities rather than expecting full lessons immediately—built confidence quickly.
For Kathryn herself, the trip offered professional growth. “I used to think I had to leave behind a perfect lesson plan,” she says. “Now I know it’s about giving them tools to build gradually, and they can grow into it.”
Read more on mentoring on Saibai Island here.
Small schools in regional areas often face challenges providing their students with access to music education. In South Australia, two small regional schools benefitted from this donation. Truro Primary School has a total of 14 students, and Light Pass Primary School has a total of 53 students.
Elizabeth Fahlbusch, one of our Music in Me Lead Mentors based in South Australia, worked with a teacher and a teaching principal at Truro Primary School, and similarly at Light Pass Primary School. She shared that both the staff and students are enjoying the program. Staff have noticed a difference in engagement, skills and togetherness through music. The participating teachers are enjoying the challenge of learning and understanding new content. They have thrown themselves into practicing their new skills with the children.
The School Principals of these two schools are sisters, and both are dedicated educators, committed to building music education skills for their teachers and themselves.
Help us bring the transformative power of music to every classroom
Philanthropic support, like that of the Daughters of Penelope, enables us to reach under-resourced, low-ICSEA, regional and remote schools. This ensures equity of access and igniting a lifelong love of music in children.
Every child deserves access to quality music education, and every teacher deserves support, inspiration and community.
Through donations to our program, we see the impact on the future of music education in Australia: teachers gain new skills, confidence and joy; mentors grow as leaders, sharing their expertise while deepening their own professional practice; and it’s an investment in creativity, equity, and the future of Australian music.
The AYO Music in Me extends heartfelt thanks to the Daughters of Penelope for their generous support, helping bring the transformative joy of music to even more students.
You can make a donation online, by calling (03) 9356 1405 or contact us at mentoring@ayo.com.au
Help teachers feel confident and joyful in their classrooms. Because when that happens, students thrive.