When fans walk into the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, or when they leave, the most notable thing they will hear is the ‘Sound of the AO’.
It’s the same for the players as they walk onto Rod Laver Arena for what could be yet another gladiatorial battle. Or for spectators enjoying the show right before play inside Rod Laver Arena, setting the scene for an incredible night of tennis ahead.
With soaring strings, horns, dramatic peaks and troughs filtered with the chant of “AO, AO," the ‘Sound of the AO’, which has officially been part of the tournament since 2022, is simply iconic.
Originally composed by Ralph van Dijik and Ramesh Sathiah, the founders of Resonance Sonic Branding in 2021, the ‘Sound of the AO’ has been reimagined this year.
Two icons of Melbourne – the Australian Open and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) – have come together to record the anthem to bring it to new heights. Featuring 55 members of the MSO, recording took place under the direction of acclaimed composer and conductor Nicholas Buc earlier in the year at Melbourne's Iwaki Auditorium.
Buc arranged the new composition and the result will give fans, players, and everyone involved in the tournament goosebumps.
"The Sound of the AO is something that is quite cinematic," Buc said. "We've got bold brass, driving strings, and it really has a quality and sound that matches with a sporting hook. First and foremost, it's got a really catchy and melodic hook.
"It's about enhancing what was already there originally. I think this piece would be very comfortable on a concert hall stage, as well as on a tennis court."
Buc said the MSO as an organisation was incredibly excited and proud to work alongside the Australian Open.
"For the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to be connected to an event like the Australian Open in our hometown is something to be very proud of,” he said. "To think we can be a small part of what is an emotional lead-in to the matches, is amazing."
What is the history behind the story of the ‘Sound of the AO’?
When Van Dijik and the team at Resonance Sonic Branding received the composition brief in 2021, they had one special ace up their sleeve – the fact the tournament is known as the AO around the world.
"The ‘AO, AO’ chant, that's a gift," Van Dijik said. "Not every brand has a brand name that can be abbreviated like that – it's a simple phrase and you can sing it, and it sounds musical."
They already had a head start as they worked to create a sound capturing drama, intrigue, peaks and troughs, while being catchy.
When they then composed the ‘Sound of the AO’, Van Dijik and his team had three themes in mind connected to the tournament: Aussie spirit, blue sky, and premium experience.
In close collaboration with Tennis Australia, and after months of work, the ‘Sound of the AO’ was recorded in Europe before debuting in January 2022 at Melbourne Park.
Almost immediately it captured everyone's attention, and with the MSO's version set to debut in January 2026, it will continue to be part of the tournament for years to come.
When Van Dijik visits Melbourne to attend the tournament, he knows the ‘Sound of the AO’ is resonating. "The way you know it's working, because every time I come to the tournament and I'm walking out, I hear people humming it as they leave,” he said.
"I feel so grateful to be part of it and get a real buzz every time I hear it."
Head of Event Brand Marketing at Tennis Australia, Britt Wickes, said the ‘Sound of the AO’ achieves everything the organisation was looking for.
"We wanted something that could be used in arenas, from waiting in queues, waiting on the telephone line, a connecting thread that brings the tournament and sound all together," she said. "Ralph and his team did an incredible job, and we definitely achieved that."
Tennis Australia's Head of Original Content, Xavier Muhlebach, believes the latest version takes the ‘Sound of the AO’ to the next level.
Muhlebach and his team worked closely with the MSO to bring the new recording to life.
“Nicholas Buc and the phenomenal orchestra have reimagined the Australian Open theme, giving it an epic, cinematic treatment that feels fresh, vibrant and absolutely fitting for AO 2026," he said.
"The result is a piece that mirrors the rhythm of a tennis match itself – the tension, release, the dramatic highs and lows – and truly captures the spirit of the Australian Open."