Winter 2023 Alumni Celebration

CITY OF SHEFFIELD YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Alumni Celebration Conductor Christopher Gayford Leader Katie Palmer

Doreen Carwithen Bishop Rock Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique

All Saints Church, Ecclesall Saturday 30th December 2023, 7.30pm

CSYO Violins Katie Palmer - Leader Victor Baycroft † Jasmine Bayley Dylan Briggs Sofia Celaya Aidan Chan Matthew Cobbold † Riley Collison Emma Copp Tom Hetherington † Gina Hindle Helen McHugh † Maria Nikolaeva Simon Peng Sarah Razlin † Clare Rees-Zimmerman † Annabella Senior Yvette Tagoe Ben Watson Rhys Williams † Joy Zhang Violas Imogen Atkinson Amelia Awan Thomas Beauchamp † Melissa Doody † Charlotte Hardy Kirin Howat Thomas Ismay Hazel Watson † Cellos Matthew Campbell Perris Heath Seth Hillier James Hindle Benjamin Jackson † Anna Jellinek Naomi McDonough Eleanor Mitchell † Ian Naylor † Harriet Ostrowski Jones Abigail Webb Joy Zhang

Double Bass Patrick Appelqvist † Christie Harrison † Lucas Jordan Will Mesher † Flutes Emily Atkinson Emily Brown Jess Carr Rebekah He Izzie Scudamore Zoe Utley † Clarinets Benjamin Atkinson Adah Charles Chidera Efobi Jacob Jordan

Oboes Robert Hind Louis Sanders Dulcie Heath Charlotte Addinall † Bassoons Ivor Amende Libby Gay † Jon Thorpe Zoe Wilson Trumpets Eleanor Bowen Lucy Heeley Martha Mallaband Oscar Sanders Eli Shaw Sofia Verona Trombones Alex Barron † Oliver Brunt † Anabelle Davies William Illingworth † Aiden Roberts-Turner

Tuba Chris Barron † Will Burton †

Harp Alejandro Barnett Alley Bridge-York

Horns Owen Amende Becca Barnes † Timothy Bassey Daniel Bassey Ella Cox Edward Lane

Timpani & Percussion Wilf Dingle Max Sharp † Jess Simmons

† - Alumni

Programme Doreen Carwithen Bishop Rock Hector Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique "Rêveries – Passions" (Daydreams – Passions) "Un bal" (A Ball) "Scène aux champs" (Scene in the Countryside) "Marche au supplice" (March to the Scaffold) "Songe d'une nuit du sabbat" (Dream of a Witches' Sabbath)

Please note there is no interval.

This performance may be recorded. Please ensure your mobile phones and watches are switched of during the performance.

Programme Notes Doreen Carwithen Bishop Rock Like her near contemporary Ruth Gipps, Doreen Carwithen’s achievements are many and varied. Like Gipps, it’s surprising that a musician of her calibre could be so rapidly and readily forgotten.

Carwithen (1922 - 2003) began her musical training with her mother before enrolling at the Royal Academy of Music in 1941. During her studies she won all of the Academy’s prizes for composition and upon graduation took up a post as a sub-professor of composition there from 1946. Her concert overtures ODTAA (One Damn Thing After Another) and Bishop Rock confirmed her early promise, and in 1947 she was awarded an apprenticeship at Denham Film Studios to write film music. She would go on to score over 30 films, including music for the official coronation reel Elizabeth is Queen.

Bishop Rock is the westernmost point of England on the edge of the Isles of Scilly, about 30 miles off Land’s End and is the last sight the seafarer has of land. In 1847, engineers started building an iron lighthouse there – but it washed away in a storm. Its extraordinary successor, first lit in 1858, stands to this day. The Guinness Book of Records lists it as the world's smallest island with a building on it.

Carwithen’s Bishop Rock Overture, premiered at the CBSO Proms in 1952, opens as a craggy sea-picture, vividly evocative, lashed by vigorous syncopations. The main theme is later transformed to show the sea in a gentle but menacing mood. Listen out for the evocative sounds of the cor anglais.

Hector Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique Louis-Hector Berlioz (1806 - 1869) was a French Romantic composer and conductor. As well as being a great musician and composer, Berlioz was a prolific and versatile writer and we are fortunate to have programme notes written by the composer himself. Here Berlioz tells the story of the Symphonie Fantastique:

A young musician of morbid sensitivity and ardent imagination poisons himself with opium in a moment of despair caused by frustrated love. The dose of narcotic, while too weak to cause his death, plunges him into a heavy sleep accompanied by the strangest of visions, in which his experiences, feelings and memories are translated in his feverish brain into musical thoughts and images.

His beloved becomes for him a melody and like an idée fixe which he meets and hears everywhere.

Part one Daydreams, Passions He remembers first the uneasiness of spirit, the indefinable passion, the melancholy, the aimless joys he felt even before seeing his beloved; then the explosive love she suddenly inspired in him, his delirious anguish, his fits of jealous fury, his returns of tenderness, his religious consolations.

Part two A Ball He meets again his beloved in a ball during a glittering fête.

Part three Scene In The Countryside One summer evening in the countryside he hears two shepherds dialoguing with their ‘Ranz des vaches’; this pastoral duet, the setting, the gentle rustling of the trees in the light wind, some causes for hope that he has recently conceived, all conspire to restore to his heart an unaccustomed feeling of calm and to give to his thoughts a happier colouring; but she reappears, he feels a pang of anguish, and painful thoughts disturb him: what if she betrayed him…

One of the shepherds resumes his simple melody, the other one no longer answers. The sun sets… distant sound of thunder… solitude… silence…

Part four March To The Scaffold He dreams that he has killed his beloved, that he is condemned to death and led to execution. The procession advances to the sound of a march that is sometimes sombre and wild, and sometimes brilliant and solemn, in which a dull sound of heavy footsteps follows without transition the loudest outbursts.

At the end, the idée fixe reappears for a moment like a final thought of love interrupted by the fatal blow.

Part five Dream Of A Witches’ Sabbath He sees himself at a witches’ sabbath, in the midst of a hideous gathering of shades, sorcerers and monsters of every kind who have come together for his funeral. Strange sounds, groans, outbursts of laughter; distant shouts which seem to be answered by more shouts. The beloved melody appears once more, but has now lost its noble and shy character; it is now no more than a vulgar dance-tune, trivial and grotesque: it is she who is coming to the sabbath… Roars of delight at her arrival… She joins the diabolical orgy… The funeral knell tolls, burlesque parody of the Dies Irae. The dance of the witches.

The dance of the witches combined with the Dies Irae.

Christopher Gayford (conductor) studied at the Royal College of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music with Timothy Reynish. He has worked with many major orchestras and opera companies, including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra as assistant conductor, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera North and Scottish Opera. A founder member of the new music group Psappha, he was involved in education project work that now forms one of his chief areas of interest.

He has conducted CSYO since 1994.

From 2000 until 2003 Christopher worked on a project called Feeling Sound, hosted and partially funded by Trinity College of Music and led a series of three Feeling Sound concerts at the Barbican with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, conducting Mozart's last three symphonies. Internationally, he has taken part in master classes with Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, Ilya Musin and Peter Eotvos and competed in two international conducting competitions, winning second prize In Cadaques and joint first in Besancon.

Of his debut with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the Wiener Zeitung commented: “in Elgar's Serenade for Strings, he showed how it is possible to produce elegant music in an apparently effortless manner, with precisely the right degree of tension and masterly shaping of the sound: a beautiful performance”.

The City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra (CSYO) was established in 1980 and has about 65 members with an age range of 13 - 21. It meets three times a year, usually in each of the vacation periods with an intensive course, often residential, followed by concert performances. In July 2005, the orchestra toured Croatia, playing Swan Lake with the Royal Russian Ballet to an audience of 4,000, a concert televised in seven countries. The orchestra recorded the backing track of John Lennon’s last song at Abbey Road Studios in London. They have also toured in the Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Norway, Poland, France, Spain, The Netherlands and most recently, Italy. Their most recent tour followed an invitation to take part in the San Leo Festival in Northern Italy. There have been many conductors, always professionals, in the last 29 years including such names as Adrian Leaper, and Martyn Brabbins. Chris Gayford is the current ‘resident’ conductor and has established a unique and productive working relationship with the players. Soloists have included famous names such as John Lill, Martin Milner, Anna Markland, Nigel Kennedy, Peter Donohoe, Lesley Garrett, Ronan O’Hora, Eleanor Bron, Matthew Barley, Natalie Clein and Peter Cropper. The orchestra has an enviable esprit de corps due largely to the staff members who, besides their musical roles, care for the members in a pastoral way. All members are looked after by an excellent mentoring system. The resulting high morale has led to some memorable performances, which we hope will be evidenced in this concert.

CSYO's Bursary Scheme is generously supported by the Sheffield Grammar School Exhibition Foundation

With huge thanks to all those involved behind the scenes:

CSYO Team Martin Cropper - Upper Strings Tutor Julia Bradshaw - Lower Strings Tutor Simon Twigge - Horn Tutor Will Morley/Chris Barron - Brass Tutors Keith Slade - Woodwind Tutor Keith Price - Percussion Tutor Alley Bridge-York - HarpTutor Cathy Czauderna - Pastoral Care Tutor Hannah Watson - Orchestra Director Gemma Wareham - Development Director The Friends of the City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra

Thank you!

In early December we took part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge and thanks to you, our members, supporters, staff and alumni we raised a grand total of £5115.99 towards our Bursary Fund!!

Thank you.

£20,000 fundraising target for 2023-24 Following the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis our costs have increased significantly. In order to keep our membership fees as low as possible whilst still offering exceptional musical and orchestral training, CSYO is committed to fundraising annually to support the costs of running the orchestral programme of courses and to provide much needed financial support to our talented young musicians. If you feel you might be able to help, have a look below at some of the ways you can support the City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra.

Ways to help: Do you work for a business with a CSR policy? We are keen to develop Corporate Partnerships with local businesses.

Become a fundraising volunteer and work with us on our fundraising campaign!

Find out more:

Join our family of regular donors and become a CSYO Champion Sponsor a concert by purchasing tickets to be given away for free to young people and people facing financial hardship

Starting at £500, sponsor a section of the orchestra for a year of courses Get in touch to let us know you want to help and we’ll go from there!

www.csyo.org.uk/fundraisingcampaign or email gemma@csyo.org.uk

Support Us For over 40 years CSYO has introduced thousands of young people to the joy of shared music-making and orchestral playing. However, without the unstinting support of our regular donors, our CSYO Champions, it would not be possible to provide these experiences to Sheffield's talented young musicians. In recent years the costs of much of the work done by the CSYO have risen significantly. By giving a small amount each month, CSYO Champions play a vital role in maintaining the current high standards of the orchestra and securing its future development. If you feel you could spare a few pounds a month we encourage you to consider this method of supporting these talented young people.

For more information visit our website:

www.csyo.org.uk/support-us

Becom e a Champ ion!

The Friends of CSYO gratefully acknowledge generous support from the following in the form of patronage and donations.

Susan and Andrew Ash Dr C Mitchell Appleqvist Mrs H Beach Robert Bentall Lesley Bilby Sam Breuning Mr and Mrs H Bugg Mr William Carlile Eric Clarke Frances Clement Mr and Mrs JR Courage Mrs Kate Cropper Dr Thomas Davis Peter Day Jackie and Roger Dunn Elsie Elliott Hugo Ferguson Sarah Fielding Mr W. Fitzmaurice Mrs Rebecca Francis J Furness & F MacDonald Maureen Gannon J Ginsborg and G Nicholson Daniel Grace Ms Veronica Hardstaff Mr & Mrs E. Harris Dr and Mrs J Headridge Dr R. Hilliam Mr & Mrs B & L Hodgson Dr Peter. and Mrs S Hughes Dr A. Kennedy Bruce Leabeater G Linnard and W Egner Mr and Mrs D Longson

Dr J Mailer Mrs B. Mangles Mr and Mrs M McKay John & Hilary Mesher Dr Caroline Mitchell Appleqvist Mary Mitchell Mr Robin Moffatt Helen McHugh Ian and Cathy Czauderna - Naylor Chris Nicholson Dr Dilys Noble Dr M O'Leary Phillipa O'Malley V and M Oxley Dr R. Panniker Dr Jennifer Pascoe Mrs Jo Payne Mr A Roberts Mrs M. Robinson Judith Robinson Dr G. Russell Dr & Mrs R.J. Saunders Anna Saunders Jonny Sells Prof J M Shapland Mrs E Webb Dr Daniel Wedgwood Edward and Viv Woodhead Ruth Woodhead Tom Woodhead Mrs M. Wragg Katherine Wren Siobhan Bradshaw Kimichi School Mrs L Wareham

We are hugely grateful to our sponsors:

Helm Partners - a strategy, research and communications consultancy

Calling all composers!

CSYO Composition Challenge In the spring of 2024 we are inviting composers to write short vignettes (c. 1 minute duration) for orchestra, to be workshopped live with CSYO and our conductor Chris Gayford.

Submission - mid-march 1st April - composer workshop day (selected compositions) Selected compositions will be performed in the summer concerts.

Keep an eye on our social media channels for more info!

Join our team.....

....BECOME A TRUSTEE

A message from our Chair: I believe that CSYO offers a unique experience for young people which includes significant development opportunities alongside professional musical training. In this backdrop of increasingly difficult times, I feel that it has never been more important to support musical excellence in the arts. The arts form an integral part of our society and to underfund them, in my opinion, is simply poor long-term investment. We have received record numbers of applications for bursary support this year. CSYO is open to all and the Friends strive to ensure that this can continue. Despite significant funding secured throughout the year, we are running at a deficit. If you agree with CSYO’s ethos of offering the highest musical education to all students then please consider supporting the organisation - we need financial support and also are looking for members to join the Friends. Becoming a Friend means you can add your support via regular meetings similar to management board meetings and also by providing practical assistance. Please do not be intimidated by the success of the organisation, if you feel you can help in any way please talk to one the Friends, Gemma Wareham or Hannah Watson.

For more information please go to our website to download and information pack: www.csyo.org.uk/become-a-trustee

Next Concert Saturday 6th April The Octagon, Sheffield

Stravinsky, The Firebird www.csyo.org.uk/events

CSYO is grateful to the following for their generous support: Sheffield Grammar School Exhibition Foundation Ecclesall Church Birkdale School Sheffield Music Hub Sheffield Music Academy Helm Partners