National Youth Orchestra of Wales
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National Youth Orchestra of Wales | |
---|---|
Youth orchestra | |
Native name | Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Ieuenctid Cymru |
Short name | NYOW |
Founded | 1945 |
Location | Cardiff |
Website | www |
The National Youth Orchestra of Wales (NYOW, Welsh: Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Ieuenctid Cymru) is the national youth orchestra of Wales, based in Cardiff. Founded in 1945, it is the longest-standing national youth orchestra in the world.
Organisation
The orchestra numbers around 115 young players aged between 13 and 22 years who are auditioned and drawn from all over Wales, and who represent some of Wales' most talented young musicians.
The NYOW has performed in
Many Welsh composers have been commissioned to write new works for the orchestra, such as
Conductors
The NYOW has traditionally appointed a resident Principal Conductor and Musical Director. These have included Clarence Raybould (1945–1966), Arthur Davison (1967–1990), Elgar Howarth (1991–1995), Christopher Adey (1996–2002), and Owain Arwel Hughes (2003–2010). 2011's concert series was conducted by Takuo Yuasa. Carlo Rizzi (2012), Grant Llewellyn (2013), Jac Van Steen (2014), and Paul Daniel (2015). Carlo Rizzi returned for the 2016–2018 season. American conductor, Andrew Litton, conducted the 2019 concert series.
Courses
A residential course is normally held in the summer, followed by a short tour comprising four or five concerts. Known to its members as the "NASH" the annual residency offers a valuable opportunity for talented musicians to work together with top professionals in an intensive environment, culminating in a series of concerts. Since 2013, a young composers course has run alongside the orchestra's summer residency, giving composers the opportunity to have their music played by members of the orchestra. Works are composed during each residency which are then given their first performances at venues including The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama,
Since 2001, the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales have worked together on projects culminating in joint concerts or recordings, giving young players the opportunity to play alongside some of the best orchestral players in Britain.
Auditions
History
- 1945 Orchestra founded by Irwyn Walters
- 1946 First concert at the Rolls Hall, Monmouth
- 1948 First appearance at the National Eisteddfodwhere the first recordings were made for future broadcasting
- 1953 First broadcast to the Queen Elizabeth
- 1955 The NYOW appeared at the Edinburgh Festival
- 1956 First record launched by Qualiton Records
- 1957 First concert tour abroad
Repertoire
The 2009 programme included
The 2010 programme included Brian Hughes's Troad,
2011's repertoire included
.2014's repertoire included
2015's repertoire included
The 2016 season included
In the summer of 2017, the orchestra performed
The 2018 season opened with Richard Strauss’ Serenade for 13 Wind Instruments. This was followed by a first time collaboration with the National Youth Choir of Wales performing Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms to commemorate Bernstein's 100th birthday. The final item of the program was Gustav Mahler's 5th Symphony.
The 2019 concert season conducted by Andrew Litton opened with Grace Williams’ much loved Fantasia on Welsh Nursery Tunes. This was followed by an orchestral suite based on Aaron Copland's only opera; The Tender Land. The final piece was Dmitri Shostakovich's 10th Symphony.
See also
- National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain
- National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
- List of youth orchestras
References
- ^ http://www.nyaw.co.uk/e_about.html | National Youth Arts Wales
- ^ Turner, Robin (13 July 2008), "Orchestral role for screen star Matthew Rhys", Western Mail. Retrieved 3 August 2008.