The Australian Youth Orchestra is set to showcase Australia’s best young musical talent to the world, with the announcement of a three-continent international tour in 2010.
The orchestra will be joined on the tour by internationally acclaimed British conductor Sir Mark Elder, who last conducted the Australian Youth Orchestra in 1982 at the Adelaide Festival.
The Australian Youth Orchestra is made up of different musicians each year, aged 25 years and under, from all over Australia, selected in a highly competitive annual audition process.
The 2010 tour will mark the 20th international tour for the orchestra, and will include concerts in prestigious venues in cities across China and Europe, including Shanghai, Beijing, Amsterdam, Berlin and London.
Since its first performance in 1957, The Australian Youth Orchestra has been a showcase of artistic excellence, performing in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls and festivals on nineteen international tours since its first in 1970, making it the country’s most toured symphony orchestra.
One of the most outstanding highlights of the orchestra’s international touring history was its first European tour in 1984, during which it became the first Australian orchestra to perform in Paris. This landmark tour established the international reputation of Australian Youth Orchestra, and led to engagements at major festivals across Europe for several decades to come.
Australian Youth Orchestra CEO, Colin Cornish, who played violin in the orchestra’s 1988 European Tour, says that international touring is one of the most valuable and transforming experiences an emerging young musician will experience.
“It is impossible not to be inspired and transformed by the touring experience Australian Youth Orchestra can provide, especially when it includes opportunities to perform in prestigious international venues,” said Mr Cornish.
“This tour may be the single most important musical experience that inspires these musicians to go on and become tomorrow’s greats,” he said.
“It is an honour to have Mark Elder returning as our conductor, ” said Mr Cornish.
The orchestra regularly tours internationally and celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2007 with its seventh European tour, including performances in France, Germany and the Netherlands, under the baton of Maestro Lawrence Foster, with soloists Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Lukas Vondracek, performing to capacity audiences.
Many of the musicians who are selected for the Orchestra in 2010 will have been through the 12 training programs offered by Australian Youth Orchestra annually in a training pathway created to nurture the musical development of Australia's finest young instrumentalists: from the emerging, gifted, school-aged student, to those on the verge of a professional career. -- www.ayo.com.au
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
