Canberra Youth Orchestra Explained

The Canberra Youth Orchestra (CYO) is a youth orchestra established in 1967 in Canberra, Australia. It mainly comprises musicians aged 15 to 25.

History

The Canberra Youth Orchestra was established in 1967. It traces its origins to 1962 and a small informal gathering of external players with the Braddon Catholic Girls High School Orchestra, with the orchestra conducted by Brigidine nun, Mother Winifred.^[1] The Canberra Youth Orchestra was one of the key ensembles in the Canberra Youth Orchestra Society. The Canberra Youth Orchestra Society became Canberra Youth Music Inc. which was merged with Music for Everyone to form Music for Canberra in 2015.^[2]

The Canberra Youth Orchestra travelled to Aberdeen, Scotland in 1980 to take part in the International Festival of Youth Orchestras.^[3]

In 1985, the CYO was named best symphony orchestra in the International Youth and Music Festival, in Vienna. It had also won the Austrian Radio and Television prize for the best radio performance.^[4]

The CYO performed Sitsky: In Celebration of Larry's 80th Birthday on 31 October 2014 to commemorate its patron's 80th birthday.^[5]

With conductor Leonard Weiss, the CYO re-established a regular subscription season at Llewellyn Hall. As part of the CYO 50th anniversary season in 2017, the orchestra performed with The Idea of North and Australian trumpeter James Morrison.^{[6] [5]} In 2018 the orchestra performed with local icon Lucy Sugerman, with Weiss and Sugerman orchestrating her original works.^[7]

In 2021, incoming CYO conductor Louis Sharpe opined that the CYO had fallen on hard times, in part because of upheaval at ANU School of Music. Sharpe intimated his ambition to build the CYO back up to a full strength orchestra of 60-70 players.^[8]

Past conductors

• Andrew McCullough^[9]
• Richard McIntyre^[10]
• Max McBride^[11]
• Wilf Jones^[12]
• Dominic Harvey^[13]
• Shilong Ye^[14]
• Leonard Weiss^{[15] [16]}
• Louis Sharpe^[17]

Patrons

• Hazel Hawke (1983-1991)^[18]
• Larry Sitsky^[19]

Alumni

• David Branson^[20]
• Katy Gallagher^[21]
• Katherine Gibbney^[22]
• Robert Gladstones^[23]
• Stephen Leek^[24]
• Bree van Reyk^[25]

Works commissioned by the CYO

• My Canberra by Marian Budos^[26]
• To Peg Mantle, With Thanks by Bree van Reyk^[27]

World premiers performed by the CYO

• My Canberra -Symphony No. 2 by Marian Budos (30 Nov 2013)^[26]
• Cognatus: three movements for youth orchestra by Mark Grandison (Nov 2005)^[28]
• Nights in Arabia: for viola soloist and orchestra by Katia Tiutiunnik (21 Mar 1999)^[29]
• A Canticle of Light by Judith Clingan (1976)^[30]
• Figheadaireached by Alexander Hunter (2019)^[31]

External links

• Music for Canberra

Notes and References

1. Web site: Canberra Youth Orchestra celebrates 50 years . 6 April 2017 .
2. Web site: Review / Raffish repertoire from young orchestra. July 26, 2015. Canberra CityNews.
3. Web site: Statement for the Press. Department of the Capital Territory. 27 July 1980.
4. Web site: Times Past: July 31, 1985. July 30, 2021. The Canberra Times.
5. Web site: Review / Youth orchestra plays with living legend. November 12, 2017. Canberra CityNews.
6. Web site: Gall . Jennifer . 2017-04-10 . Canberra Youth Orchestra at Llewellyn Hall with the Idea of North was impressive . 2024-06-07 . The Canberra Times . en-AU.
7. Web site: 2018-07-25 . Lucy Sugerman performs originals with Canberra Youth Orchestra . 2024-06-07 . HerCanberra . en-US.
8. News: Bushnell . Ian . New conductor sees Canberra Youth Orchestra as major player . Riotact . en.
9. Web site: Orchestral concert : the Cathedral Church of St. Saviour, Goulburn, N.S.W.. Trove .
10. Web site: Richard McIntyre . 10 May 2022 .
11. Web site: Max McBride | Australian World Orchestra . 20 August 2020 .
12. Web site: Canberra Youth Orchestra celebrates 50 years . 6 April 2017 .
13. Web site: Nights in Arabia : For viola soloist and orchestra by Katia Tiutiunnik: Work : Australian Music Centre .
14. Web site: Review/Raffish Repertoire from young orchestra . 26 July 2015 .
15. Web site: Canberra Youth Orchestra celebrates its 50th birthday . Limelight . 24 November 2023 . en-AU.
16. News: Canberra's busiest baton on a global swing . Canberra CityNews . 22 May 2023 . en-AU.
17. Web site: Louis Sharpe: Growing up in good company . Limelight . 24 November 2023 . en-AU.
18. Web site: Hazel Hawke Expatronages Canberra Youth Orchestra .
19. Web site: Review / Youth orchestra plays with living legend. CBR City News . 12 November 2017.
20. Web site: ACT Heritage Library - David Branson. 10 May 2022.
21. Web site: When your kid gets COVID at school: Katy Gallagher on being prepared . 21 October 2021 .
22. Web site: ACT Heritage Library Katherine Gibbney Collection . 1961-1989 .
23. Web site: Principal 3rd Horn, Western Australian Symphony Orcehstra . 1989.
24. Web site: Stephen Leek, Classical Music Composer.
25. Web site: Celebrating Inspirational Women in Music. 10 April 2019.
26. News: Australian Music Centre. My Canberra: Symphony No. 2 .
27. Web site: Celebrating Inspirational Women in Music. 10 April 2019.
28. Web site: Cognatus : three movements for youth orchestra .
29. Web site: Nights in Arabia : For viola soloist and orchestra by Katia Tiutiunnik : Work : Australian Music Centre .
30. Web site: A Canticle of light (multiple choirs with ensemble and soloist(s)) .
31. Web site: Alexander Hunter Compositions .