queensland youth orchestras : qyo orchestras

Orchestras

QYO has 500 members in eight orchestras. A brief description of each orchestra is given below.

Queensland Youth Symphony (QYS)

The 100-member Queensland Youth Symphony (QYS) is widely recognised as a world-class youth orchestra and is the flagship ensemble of Queensland Youth Orchestras (QYO).

The Queensland Youth Symphony has performed throughout Australia and internationally during ten overseas tours (Europe, USA, United Kingdom, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand) to much critical acclaim.

In 2004, QYS toured to Germany and Italy giving concerts in Ulm, Munich, Bamberg, Würzburg, Florence, Santa Fiora and Tivoli. It performed in the Festival Euro Mediterraneo near Rome and the International Festival of European Youth Orchestras in Florence. QYS shared concerts with the Munich Youth Orchestra, Würzburg Conservatorium musicians, various choirs in Würzburg Cathedral and the Ulm Youth Wind Orchestra.

QYS has performed with The Whitlams, flautist Alexis Kenny, pianists Michele Campanella and Monica Leone, violinist Mark Mogeilevski, clarinettist Richard Haynes, and pianist Natasha Vlassenko.

Past members of the QYS hold positions in most of Australia’s major orchestras and orchestras of renown throughout the world.

2nd Queensland Youth Orchestra (QYO2)

QYO2 has 100 members ranging in age from 12 to 23. It was founded in 1969 as the "Training Orchestra", marking the beginning of the expansion of QYO. The orchestra gives around five concerts per year under conductor Sergei Korschmin. Repertoire typically includes overtures, concertos, symphonies and other works suited to a full size symphony orchestra.

3rd Queensland Youth Orchestra (QYO3)

The Third Queensland Youth Orchestra has 80 members ranging in age from 10 to 19 years. Under conductor Bradley Voltz, the orchestra performs a variety of repertoire including classical works and medleys from musicals arranged for symphony orchestra.

Junior String Ensemble (JSE)

The Junior String Ensemble was formed in 1975 as a training group for string players aged up to 15 years. With 70 players aged from 9 to 15, the ensemble teaches members the skills of ensemble playing and orchestral discipline before they proceed to the other QYO orchestras. JSE performs works by contemporary composers and arrangements of popular music, in addition to standard classical orchestral repertoire often arranged by the conductor Chen Yang.

Wind Symphony (WS)

The 75-member Wind Symphony was established in 1973 to cater for the large number of qualified wind and brass players applying for positions within Queensland Youth Orchestras. The Wind Symphony, now with their new conductor Peter Morris, performs regularly throughout South-east and regional Queensland and it has twice won Sunny (Queensland Recording Industry) Awards for best classical CD. Members range in age from 13 to 23.

Wind Ensemble (WE)

The Wind Ensemble conducted by Katrina Mothershaw has 60 members with an upper age limit of 17. The ensemble was founded in 1999 and has completed tours to Northern New South Wales, South-east Queensland and Central Queensland. In 2001, the ensemble won the "Junior" section of the Australian National Band Championships and received second place in the "Junior A Grade" section in 2006.

Chamber Orchestra (CO)

The 27-member Chamber Orchestra consists of key players from the Queensland Youth Symphony. In 2003, 2004, 2005 & 2006, the chamber orchestra was conducted by Sergei Korschmin, Sean O'Boyle and Leonard Spira and performed concerts in Brisbane, Noosa, Tweed Heads, Nambour, Maryborough and Bundaberg. In these concerts, the orchestra collaborated with soloists and choirs including guitarist Tommy Emmanuel, clarinettist Melanie Piddocke, the Noosa Chorale and the Orpheus Singers.

Big Band (BB)

The QYO Big Band was formed in 2000 to undertake tours to Weipa and Far North Queensland sponsored by Bundaberg Sugar and Comalco. The band has continued to undertake this tour each year with 17 performances annually in various regional towns. From 2003 to 2005, sponsorship from QR enabled the band to increase its concert activity. As well as many performances for QR in Cairns, Winton and around Brisbane, the band has performed at Queensland Pops Orchestra concerts, gala dinners, the River Festival's Riversymphony at New Farm Park, and at the Opening of the Museum of Brisbane. Under the leadership of David Coit, the band performs a wide range of repertoire including popular, jazz and swing standards.

Energy Quartet (EQ)

The Energy (string) Quartet was formed in 2006 and is sponsored by Peabody Energy Australia Coal. Comprising principal players from the Queensland Youth Symphony, the quartet performs in the Coates Hire Concerts at Twilight series and is also available for government, corporate and private functions.

To hire the quartet for a function, please call 3257 3029 or email info@qyo.org.au