South West Youth Orchestra 2011

From Sunday 14 to Thursday 18 August 2011, exceptionally talented young orchestral musicians gathered at Bryanston School in Dorset to experience music-making at an exceptionally high level.

Tutored by professional orchestral musicians from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO), South West Youth Orchestra was delighted to welcome Rui Pinheiro, Associate Conductor for BSO, to lead rehearsals and performance for the first time.

Extremely challenging repertoire was studied by everyone for 5 days, culminating in a fantastic performance in the Coade Hall on Thursday 18th August 2011:

• Fanfare for the Common Man - Copland
• Enigma Variations - Elgar
• Firebird Suite - Stravinsky
• 3 Dances from the Three Cornered Hat Suite II - Falla

String Chamber Music

The Armonia String Quartet from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance were delighted to be chosen as the inaugural SWYO Quartet in Residence. The four conservatoire students assisted BSO players with sectional rehearsals, string chamber music coaching and helped other members of the orchestra too. They had a mentor from the BSO during the course and enjoyed the opportunity to take part in a mock professional orchestral audition.

For the first time this year, SWYO 2011 held a public chamber music concert performed by members of the orchestra including the Armonia String Quartet.

Conducting

The South West Music School Podium Project also culminated at the SWYO course, with several budding young conductors getting the amazing opportunity to conduct a symphony orchestra. These students had been studying conducting during the year with Matthew Wood, conductor of SWYO 2009 & 2010, and had learned movements of Elgar's Enigma Variations in order to conduct SWYO and see what it is like to be responsible for an ensemble of this size.