South West Youth Strings set for 2012!

31 January

MEDIA RELEASE:

South West Youth Strings back in 2012!

The South West Youth Strings is a regional youth program funded by the West Australian Youth Orchestra which has been in operation in the South West since February 2011. There are two ensembles in the program which involve students from across the South West regions and rehearse locally; the ‘Junior Maestros' conducted by violinist Rachel Brogan is a collection of young novice players whose emphasis is learning basic skills of playing in an ensemble in a fun and supportive environment, whilst the ‘Camerata' conducted by cellist Jess Johnson is designed for advanced young string players and offers in-depth orchestral training in preparation for possible careers in music. Rachel Brogan, who has studied at Cambridge University, has extensive experience both locally and abroad as a music educator and youth orchestra conductor, while Jess Johnson is an experienced strings specialist who established the strings program at Bunbury Grammar in 2008, and has performed extensively as a chamber musician and member of WA Symphony Orchestra.

In 2011, the program's pilot year, the Camerata played their premier performance as a support act for the WA Youth Orchestra at Perth Concert Hall. In July of that year both the Camerata and Junior Maestros featured at the Bunbury Regional Eisteddfod ‘Sally Cooper' Concert, and then in September the South West Youth Strings hosted a day of workshops for outer regional students at Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre. Students were tutored for the day by professional musicians who have performed with West Australian Symphony and other interstate Orchestras, Australian Chamber Orchestra, and the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra as well as prestigious European ensembles such as Norwegian Baroque Ensemble and the English Concert baroque ensemble. The event attracted over 50 strings students from Bunbury, Manjimup, Busselton, Dunsborough, Mandurah, Bunbury and outer Bunbury regions. Workshop students joined with South West Youth Strings members for a ‘Celebration Concert' in the afternoon with parents and organisers proclaiming the event a huge success.

WA Youth Orchestra and its sponsors are proud to announce that funding has been approved for this regional initiative continue into 2012 and beyond. Most large arts organizations around the country receive considerable funding for regional activities. However in the case of orchestras, due to a number of factors, regional activities usually consist of a handful of members travelling through a town, performing small scale works for an hour and then leaving. Instead, WA Youth Orchestras have established two full time string youth orchestras that train students within the local community.

On the 29th of June the South West Youth Strings will perform at series of Schools Concerts at Grace Christian School and Dalyellup Primary in Bunbury, and Georgiana Molloy Anglican School in Busselton.

ENDS.

Photo and interview opportunities available.

For more information please contact
Yvette Brownlie, Marketing Manager, WA Youth Orchestras
(08) 9328 9859 | yvette.brownlie@wayo.net.au