The Armidale Youth Orchestras finished 2019 on an absolute high! For their last performance of the year, the Armidale Youth Orchestra (AYO), conducted by Paul Marshall, performed for some of Armidale’s Senior Citizens at the Masonic Village. The audience was absolutely delighted at the performance, and even called for an encore! The audience was so pleased to see the pleasure the AYO students have in playing and sharing music, we cannot underestimate the power of music to soothe the soul and lift the spirits. The orchestra played magnificently and the residents expressed great hope that the AYO would return in 2020. We are certainly happy to oblige!
The Armidale Youth String Orchestra (AYSO), conducted by Joanna Fairs-Wu, along with visiting string students from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Quart-Ed had their annual day trip, visiting Ben Lomond and Black Mountain Public Schools to share their love of music-making with the student at those schools. It was a great success all round, and the AYSO students reported having a fantastic day.
The Armidale Youth Wind Ensemble (AYWE), conducted by Louisa Sindel-Marshall and accompanied by Paul Marshall, played at the ‘Lift Off! The Festival of Wind’ in Glen Innes in September. The festival is to celebrate Glen Innes’ future as a renewable energy hub, and our young players were so excited to be part of this great event!
The AYO’s are very excited for 2020, with our first big event being our annual Sawtell Music Camp in February where we are very excited to welcome back the fantastic Ben Castle as our guest conductor! This will be followed on Sunday, April 5th by our beautiful Garden Party to be held at the historic Saumarez Homestead!
Students interested in joining the AYO can find out more at www.armidaleyouthorchestras.org.au or by contacting Dr Erica Smith on 0488167589