Kirklees Musical Youth Orchestra
Musical Youth Orchestra (MYO) was founded in the year 2000, under the umbrella of Musica Kirklees (then Kirklees Music School). Its aim remains to provide high quality orchestral opportunities for the students in the local area who have reached advanced standards of performance.
The youth orchestra embraces a variety of genres and styles, from classical to contemporary and film scores, musicals and popular music. It also engages in project work with other arts organisations and complementary groups.
MYO has performed works such as Gershwin “Rhapsody in Blue” with Yuanfan Yang (2013), Keith Swallow and Rick Uttley, Rachmaninov 2nd Piano Concerto with John Lill, Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 with Atsuko Sahara, “The Armed Man – a mass for peace” by Karl Jenkins and Bernstein “West Side Story” Symphonic Suite.
Since 2003 our Summer Concert Tours have visited many exciting venues across Europe where MYO has delighted capacity audiences at venues as diverse as the Basilica in Verona and Disneyland in Paris! Sadly, the recent pandemic has foiled our travel plans over the last two years, but we are delighted to be dipping our toes back in the water with our tour to Stratford, Summer 2022.
MYO has successfully participated in the National Festival of Music for Youth, appearing at the Royal Festival Hall, London, Birmingham’s Symphony Hall and notably in the Royal Albert Hall twice as part of the Schools’ Prom concert series.
Each section of the orchestra is coached by a member of Musica Kirklees staff and the string section is a successful orchestra in its own right. The Musica Youth Strings is directed by Peter Simons and assisted by Will Mace, has been successful in many festivals and regularly wins the right to perform in Birmingham with the National Festival of Music for Youth. The brass section (Symphonic Brass) is trained by Nick Dolling and the orchestra’s woodwind section is directed by Rachel O’Sullivan.
Musical Director: Thom Meredith (Principal, Musica Kirklees)
Leader: Bess Cook-Miller
This event is included with your entry, so no worries about any extra costs.
