Queensland Youth Symphony

Written By Josh Cohen

Queensland Youth Symphony is widely recognized as a world-class youth orchestra and is the leading ensemble of Queensland Youth Orchestras.

QYS performs an annual concert series with a focus on works from the late 19th and 20th centuries and by contemporary Australian composers. QYS has toured and performed throughout Australia and internationally. Past members of QYS are active in Australia and abroad as soloists, teachers, composers, conductors, chamber musicians and members of major symphony orchestras. String players who successfully audition are offered a position ‘within the section’ and seating arrangements for each string section are adjusted by the conductor in consultation with QYS tutors for each concert.

QYS INFORMATION

QYO is offering a 2023 QYS member the opportunity to perform a concerto in the 2024 QYS Concert Series. First Round audition applications close on 31 August 2023. More information and an application form coming soon.

INFORMATION

  • 100+ member symphony orchestra

  • Standard professional orchestral repertoire

  • Conductor: Simon Hewett (since 2020)

  • Rehearsals: Saturday 8.30am-1.00pm at The Old Museum
    (some Sunday mornings if required)

  • Sectional tutorials: During rehearsal times or some Saturday afternoons

ELIGIBILITY

Minimum AMEB Grade 8 (guide only)

  • Flute & clarinet: minimum AMEB AMusA (guide only)

  • Maximum age limit as at 31 December 2024: 25 years

  • Applicants who are in primary school in 2024 who play wind, brass and percussion instruments are not eligible to audition for, or join QYS.

INSTRUMENTS

  • Violin 1 (18), Violin 2 (18), Viola (16), Cello (14), Double Bass (12)

  • Flute (2), Piccolo (1), Oboe (2), Cor Anglais (1), Clarinet Bb and A (2), Bass Clarinet (1), Bassoon (2), Contrabassoon (1)

  • French Horn (5), Trumpet (3), Trombone (2), Bass Trombone (1), Tuba (1)

  • Timpani (1), Percussion (3), Harp (1)

Conductor

Featured
Simon Hewett
Simon Hewett

Simon Hewett is the QYO Director of Music and Conductor of the Queensland Youth Symphony. After completing a Bachelor of Music at the University of Queensland (First Class Honours and a University Medal), Simon received a German Government Scholarship and finished his studies in conducting at the Hochschule für Musik ‘Franz Liszt’ in Weimar, Germany. He made his debut at the Sydney Opera House in 2003. In 2012 he was awarded a Green Room Award for Best Conductor of an Opera.

In 2005 Simon was appointed as Kapellmeister and Assistant Music Director to the Hamburg State Opera. He was Principal Conductor of the Stuttgart Opera from 2011 to 2016, and has appeared as a regular guest conductor at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Paris Opera and Vienna State Opera.

Simon was appointed Principal Conductor of the Hamburg Ballet in 2008, and since then he has appeared with the Hamburg Ballet at the Salzburg Festival, the Spoleto Festival, in the USA, Japan, Hong Kong, Moscow and Australia.

Josh Cohen https://www.squarely.com.au
Previous

Junior String Ensemble 1
Next

Queensland Youth Orchestra 2