European Union Youth Orchestra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids European Union Youth Orchestra |
|
|---|---|
| Youth orchestra | |
 |
|
| Founded | 1976 |
| Location | Grafenegg, Austria |
| Principal conductor | Vasily Petrenko |
The European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) is a special youth orchestra. Its members come from all 27 countries of the European Union. Since it started in 1976, the EUYO has helped young musicians from Europe connect with the professional music world.
Many people think the EUYO is one of the best youth orchestras globally. They play music at a very high level. You can find them performing at big European festivals. These include the Proms, the Salzburg Festival, and Young Euro Classic. The EUYO is also part of the European Federation of National Youth Orchestras. It gets support from the Creative Europe programme.
Contents
Joining the EUYO: Auditions and Tours
The EUYO is open to young people from the EU. You can audition if you are between 16 and 26 years old. Each year, about 2,000 to 3,000 musicians try out. From these, the orchestra chooses around 120 members. They also pick 120 reserve players.
Most members stay in the orchestra for two to three years. More than 90% of former members become professional musicians. This shows how good the training is!
The EUYO organizes special music camps called "residencies" every year. These happen in spring and summer. After each camp, the orchestra goes on a tour. The spring camp starts with two to three weeks of practice in Ferrara, Italy. The summer camps are held in Grafenegg, Austria, and Bolzano, Italy. They also begin with a three-week practice period.
A Brief History of the EUYO
The EUYO was started in 1976 by Joy and Lionel Bryer. It was first called the European Community Youth Orchestra (ECYO). The idea came from the European Parliament. Claudio Abbado was the orchestra's first director.
In 1994, the orchestra changed its name. It became the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO). This happened after the Maastricht Treaty created the European Union. By 2013, the orchestra had played concerts in every country in the European Union.
In 2014, the EUYO started a project called Towards 2020. This project aimed to change classical music in Europe. It trained young musicians to connect with audiences today.
A Time of Challenge and Support
In May 2016, the EUYO announced some sad news. They said they might have to stop playing because of a lack of funding. But this news made many people across Europe want to help!
People organized campaigns and even "flash mobs" to show support. Many famous conductors and artists spoke out. They included Antonio Pappano, Gustavo Dudamel, and Daniel Barenboim. They all supported the orchestra's important work.
Thanks to all this support, good news came quickly. The Council of Ministers and European Commission announced that funding would be found. The EUYO could continue its mission!
Moving Homes: Italy and Austria
The orchestra used to be based in London. But in October 2017, they decided to move to Italy. This was because of Brexit, when the UK left the European Union. After December 31, 2020, musicians from the United Kingdom could no longer apply to join.
In 2018, the EUYO moved its home to Ferrara, Italy. Their main office was in the Teatro Comunale Claudio Abbado. This is a beautiful opera house in the city center.
Then, on December 5, 2022, the orchestra announced another move. From 2023, their main office would be in Grafenegg and Vienna, Austria.
Famous People Who Worked with EUYO
The EUYO has had four main conductors since it began:
- 1976–1994: Claudio Abbado
- 1994–2000: Bernard Haitink
- 2000–2015: Vladimir Ashkenazy
- since 2015: Vasily Petrenko
Many other famous conductors have also worked with the EUYO. These include Leonard Bernstein, Herbert von Karajan, and Zubin Mehta.
Lots of amazing solo musicians have performed with the EUYO too. Some famous pianists are Martha Argerich and Evgeny Kissin. Well-known violinists include Itzhak Perlman, Janine Jansen, and Anne-Sophie Mutter. Singers like Plácido Domingo and Jessye Norman have also performed with them.
See also
- European Union Baroque Orchestra
- European Union Chamber Orchestra
- List of youth orchestras
