Suffolk Youth Orchestra
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Under the leadership of Senior County Music Advisor to Suffolk County Council and conductor Philip Shaw, the Suffolk Youth Orchestra, (or SYO as it is commonly known), has continued to flourish as one of the most well respected youth music groups in the UK. This full symphony orchestra (which usually numbers c.90 players) is made up of young people, all based in Suffolk, between the ages of 13 and 21 years. The orchestra plays a wide range of classical music dating from the 19th century right through to the mid-20th.
The orchestra performs throughout the year at the wonderful Snape Maltings concert hall in Suffolk, home to the world-famous Aldeburgh Festival and closely affiliated with the composer Benjamin Britten.
In 2000 the ensemble was on route to their hotel near Paris when the building was tragically struck by a Concorde aircraft.*1
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[edit] Tours
Every summer the orchestra embarks upon a week long tour to continental Europe. Over the past few years locations have included; Prague (2002), Barcelona and the Costa Dorada, Spain (2003), Strasbourg (2004) and Kraków, Poland (2005). 2006 has seen them travel on a well received trip to Tuscany, Italy. In 2007 the ensemble travelled to the Castile and León region in Spain.
[edit] Royal Occasions
Over the past few years the ensemble has been honoured to have been asked to play at several important local events. As part of the Royal Golden Jubilee visit to Suffolk in July 2002 the orchestra presented a Prom in the Park concert in the Abbey Gardens, Bury St. Edmunds in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip. Furthermore February 2005 saw Suffolk Youth Orchestra participating in a concert attended by HRH The Princess Royal at St. Edmundsbury Cathedral as part of the celebrations for the completion of the new tower.
[edit] Other Accolades
Suffolk Youth Orchestra was one of only seven British youth orchestras to be selected to participate in Masterprize 2001 - the world's leading composing competition, in association with the London Symphony Orchestra.
In December 2007 the ensemble provided the music from BBC Radio Suffolk's Christmas broadcast from Snape Maltings Concert Hall.
[edit] Other Ensembles
Other high level ensembles in Suffolk are Suffolk Youth Wind Band and Suffolk Young Strings.
[edit] References
1 The Independent, 26/07/2000 [1]
