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Australian Christian Arts
Young Australian Christian Orchestra musician mid-performance
ACNC Registered Charity
Australian Christian Arts

Tax-deductible by 30 June

Your gift puts a young Christian musician on stage.

$50 buys a young chorister their first rehearsal. $500 brings a Youth Orchestra musician through their season. $5,000 helps launch the Youth Orchestra and Choir in May.

Your support does three things

1

Launch the Youth Orchestra & Choir

Putting young Christian musicians on stage in May 2026, in their first rehearsal of an orchestra and choir built for them.

2

Continue Our Ministry

Seeing people come to Christ, find a local church, uniting denominations, and creating a safe home for Christian musicians, singers and artists.

3

Reclaim the Arts for Christ

World-class concerts and arts organisations in Australia and beyond.

REGISTERED CHARITY · ABN 31 644 225 758 · TAX-DEDUCTIBLE VIA ACF

Governance →Financial Report →

What Your Gifts Have Built

Your gift helps us to continue to bear fruit

You could support a lot of things. This one trains the next generation, bridges denominations, and produces work the world actually wants to see. That's worth giving to.

People gathered since 2022
6,600+
Youth joining in May - with your support
100
New believers who gave their lives to Jesus
19
Musicians and singers found a place to belong
100+
Christian denominations united
20+
Concerts across the east coast
15+
Helped toward finding a church
208
Faith reaffirmed in Christ
330
Recommitted their lives to Jesus
34

"I don't have too many close contacts of people from such varied backgrounds united in Christ - being involved in this orchestra has allowed me to become part of such a unique community of fellow Christians."

Christen · Orchestra Member

Launching May 2026

Your gift allows us to launch the Youth Orchestra & Choir.

Two new ensembles, one mission: to create a place where young Christian musicians don't have to choose between their faith and their craft.

Australian Christian Youth OrchestraAustralian Christian Youth Choir

A generation of gifted young musicians live in the middle.

In many churches, their musical ability has no place to grow.

In schools and the wider arts world, their faith sets them apart.

Gifted, but unseen. Passionate, but unsupported. Surrounded by people, yet quietly alone.

Conductor leading orchestra
Full orchestra on stage

We Exist to Change That

We're building the place where they belong.

With your support, we're creating a place where Christian young artists can thrive—faith and craft united.

Australian Christian Youth OrchestraAustralian Christian Youth Choir
String musician
Ensemble on stage

"Most young musicians are forced to choose between their faith and their craft. We are the place where they don't have to."

Natalia Raspopova · Youth Conductor

Under Natalia Raspopova, former Assistant Conductor with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, this is not a hobby ensemble. It's a training ground - and a community. She's raising the next generation of Christian artists who will shape culture.

What Your Gift Actually Funds

This isn't just music training. It's character formation.

Confidence

Confidence

Confidence

Young musicians step onto stages and into rehearsal rooms that demand their very best - and discover they have it.

Identity

Identity

Identity

They find out who they are when faith and artistry are held together, not forced apart.

Belonging

Belonging

Belonging

A place where they are known, needed, and valued - not despite their gifts, but because of them.

Purpose

Purpose

Purpose

A reason to use their gifts for something bigger than themselves. Not just music - a calling.

76% of Youth Orchestra participants* say it raises their self-esteem

*Study on the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra conducted by Dr William Baker

Your gift transforms isolation into self-belief and belonging.

Ages 13–19 · Sydney CBD · Launching May 2026 · Child Safety Policy · Learn More

Our People

Your Gift Gives Professional Christians a Purpose

Natalia Raspopova (SSO, MSO, QSO) found her purpose here.

Natalia is a Russian-Australian conductor of international standing - raised in the Russian Orthodox tradition, steeped in sacred music from childhood. She has worked with Australia's finest orchestras and ensembles, recorded piano with the Sydney Symphony, and conducted at some of the world's great concert halls.

And yet, like so many highly trained Christian artists, she spent years navigating a professional world with no room for faith. When she found Australian Christian Arts, something shifted. Here was a community that didn't ask her to choose.

Your gift makes it possible for world-class Christian professionals - conductors, musicians, singers - to bring their whole selves to their craft. Natalia now leads our full orchestra and choir, and our Youth Orchestra. She is doing the most meaningful work of her career.

2013
Symphony Services International Conductor Development Program: Tasmanian, Melbourne and Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestras
2015
Assistant Conductor, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, working with Simone Young, Maxim Vengerov and Marin Alsop
2017
Conducted BBC Concert Orchestra at London's Southbank; chosen by David Zinman to conduct the Tonhalle Orchester Zurich
2022
Quarter-finalist in La Maestra, one of the world's most prestigious international conducting competitions
Musicians from diverse denominations performing together on stage

Messiah, 2025

Our Programmes

Your Gift. Five ensembles. One vision.

AChA runs Orchestra, Choir, Youth Orchestra, Youth Choir, and Production - not as separate programs, but as a single community of artists growing together, sharpening each other, and building toward something that has never been done quite like this before.

The goal is a Sydney Opera House performance by the end of 2027. Not as a vanity project. As a statement - that the Church belongs at the highest level of the arts, and that excellence and faith are not in tension.

Every dollar given trains a young musician who might not otherwise have a place, funds a rehearsal that brings together Christians who would never meet in a Sunday service and moves a world-class vision one step closer to the stage.

This is not a charity that needs your pity. It is a movement that deserves your investment.

Australian Christian Arts programmes - Youth Choir, Orchestra, Choir, Youth Orchestra, Production

"Most young musicians are forced to choose between their faith and their craft. We are the place where they don't have to."

Natalia Raspopova · Youth Conductor

Reading the score, Easter rehearsal

Reading the score, Easter rehearsal

Full orchestra, Chatswood Concourse

Full orchestra, Chatswood Concourse

Give

We have options for everyone.

Every gift, of any size, goes directly to music, community, and artists. We're fully transparent - see our financial report and governance. Select a level below and you'll be taken straight to our secure giving form.

Most Popular

Tax-deductible giving. Give now and claim your donation on your tax return. Financial year ends 30 June 2026.

REGISTERED CHARITY · ABN 31 644 225 758 · TAX-DEDUCTIBLE VIA ACF

Financial Transparency

Where Your Money Goes

Every dollar you give is stewarded carefully. Download our full financial breakdown for detailed figures.

34.34%
Artistic & Production

Conductors, musicians, production teams

22.06%
Wages & Staff

Leadership, coordination, operations

10.14%
Venue Hire & Workspace

Rehearsal spaces, concert halls

9.43%
Administration

Systems, tools, operations

8.3%
Marketing & Outreach

Reaching new audiences

2.9%
Volunteer Welfare

Supporting our community

1.9%
Professional Development

Training, supervision, growth

2.47%
Travel & Transport

Getting people to rehearsals & events

2.79%
Supplies & Materials

Sheet music, folders, resources

2.54%
Superannuation

Staff retirement

ACNC Registered Charity Logo

Transparency

Your questions answered. All the documentation.

We are responsible with your gift. Accountable to you, our members, and to God.

What do they actually believe?
How do they do ecumenism?
Company Type
Public Company Limited by Guarantee
ABN
31 644 225 758
ACN
644 225 758
Registered Charity
ACNC Registered Charity · Tax-deductible via ACF
Fundraising Authority
CFN/27267, valid to 2027
Oversight Bodies
ASIC · ACNC · NSW Fair Trading

Board of Directors 2025-26

Ryan Gilpin
Founder & CEO

A pianist, composer, and arts leader with over 15 years of experience spanning orchestral performance, worship leading, and large-scale event coordination across Australia and the UK. Ryan's passion for uniting artistry with discipleship led him to establish Australian Christian Arts.

Leon Shohmelian
Board Member, Principal Solicitor

Principal Solicitor of Shohmelian Legal with nearly twenty years of legal experience across commercial practice, property, corporate governance, and estates. Leon strengthens AChA's governance, risk management, and compliance frameworks.

Dr Zachary Edward McPherson
Board Member, Medical Doctor and Researcher

A medical doctor and researcher whose work spans ophthalmology and translational health science. Zachary's analytical and compassionate perspective helps shape AChA's culture of care, safety, and inclusion for all participants.

Orchestra members performing together

The arts belong to Christ. Help us reclaim them.

People just like you are already part of this. Your gift opens the door for the next person.

Orchestra on stage with full audience

What Our Members Say

Words from the community

"I feel so at home in the Australian Christian Orchestra. The people get me. They are passionate about worshipping God, just like I am. They are skilled musicians. Yet there are so many different people with different perspectives - we are all so different, but also so united in Christ."

Josh · Orchestra Member

This is what community sounds like. People from different backgrounds coming together through music and faith.

Member photo
"

Being a classically trained musician, I'm a bit of an outlier in any of my regular church circles. Playing in AChO has been an answer to prayer - to make friends who share my passion for making good music and playing music that contemporary musicians wouldn't try.

Ethan

Orchestra Member

Member photo
"

Being involved in the Australian Christian Choir has helped me find community immensely. There are many people much better than me, but they don't treat me like they're better. We all help and support each other. I've felt exceedingly welcomed.

Matt

Choir Member

Member photo
"

There's a sense of belonging because of shared passion, shared faith and shared purpose. A diverse group come together to a haven of music and not only blend in harmony but also in laughter and life experiences.

Alison

Choir Member