The Queensland Youth Orchestras (QYO) is Australia's leading organisation for orchestral training and performance and is currently based at the Old Museum building in Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It also houses Queensland's premiere youth orchestra, The Queensland Youth Symphony.
Under the artistic leadership of Maestro John Curro AM MBE since 1966, the Queensland Youth Symphony has often been regarded as being one of the top youth orchestras in Australia.
QYO is a member of Youth Orchestras Australia (YOA), a network comprising the major state youth orchestras of Australia and the Australian Youth Orchestra.
Queensland Youth Orchestras consists of three symphony orchestras, two concert bands, a junior string orchestra, a chamber orchestra and a big band. Each group has its own annual program of rehearsals, tutorials, music camps, concerts and tours for musicians.
500 musicians in 8 orchestras perform more than 60 concerts throughout Queensland each year. The leading orchestra, the Queensland Youth Symphony conducted by John Curro AM MBE, tours internationally every four years and regularly performs with world-class soloists such as Christopher Wrench.
Each October, around 640 musicians audition for QYO before a panel of professional musicians and over 500 musicians are offered positions in orchestras. Performing members of QYO must re-audition for a place each year alongside new applicants.
QYO is based at the Old Museum building in Bowen Hills. The venue allows several orchestras to rehearse simultaneously and houses a concert hall, rehearsal spaces and the QYO Office.
QYO is a non-profit organisation requiring substantial funds to fulfil its mission. In order of magnitude, the organisation's main sources of income are from membership fees, corporate sponsorship, grants from the State and Federal Governments through Arts Queensland and the Australia Council, concert income and fundraising activities.
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John Curro AM MBE: Conductor of QYS (Queensland Youth Symphony (previously known as QYO1)) since 1966 and founder of QYO. He also established the National Youth Concerto Competition (NYCC).
Sergei V. Korschmin: Conductor of QYO2 (Second Queensland Youth Orchestra) since 2003. Sergei Korschmin official website
Bradley D. Voltz: Conductor of QYO3 (Third Queensland Youth Orchestra) since 1998.
Warrick Potter: Conductor of the Wind Symphony since 2010.
David Law: Conductor of the Wind Ensemble since 2009.
Chen Yang: Conductor of JSE (Junior String Ensemble).
David Coit: Leader of the Big Band since 2005.
The National Youth Concerto Competition (NYCC) was established in 1976 by QYO founder John Curro AM MBE. Open to string players (violin, viola, cello and bass) in Australia under the age of 17, the NYCC gives young string players "an opportunity to extend themselves beyond the normal AMEB and eisteddfod experiences". Initial applicants submit CD recordings of four pieces. The three finalists are selected to play at a Finals Concert each October, from which an overall winner is chosen.