Our Journey

S Through SYO I was introduced to the experience of performing orchestral music, and given the encouragement as well as the education required to develop the skills I still use today in MSO. It was without doubt the first step towards my life as a professional musician.

Stephen Newton DOUBLE BASS MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

182 Cumberland St, The Rocks NSW 2000 T +61 2 9251 2422 F +61 2 9251 2744 E info@syo.com.au Photography: Craig Proudford / Toddlers’ Proms Photography: Prudence Upton / Design: Brad George / Sydney Youth Orchestras Inc. ABN: 63 886 284 698

Y O

O U R

J O U R N E Y

As a passionate music lover, the opportunity to help ensure the future of classical music is not only a privilege but a supreme pleasure. Together with a commitment to musical excellence our young players learn to value achievement, teamwork, consideration for others, all the qualities that make for good citizens who will contribute to the Australian community. We are very proud of SYO and I invite you to help us develop and train the next generation of musicians to take their place in our nation’s musical life as members of our orchestras and chamber music groups, teachers and audiences.

JAN BOWEN CHAIR

Sydney Youth Orchestras has the power to change lives Richard Gill OAM

AM

There are many great symphony orchestras in the world that I yearn to conduct, but I can count on one hand the youth orchestras with whom I want to spend my time. Without a doubt the Sydney Youth Orchestra is at the top of this list. Sometimes intense, but always brilliant and bold, conducting this orchestra and leading this organisation is as refreshing as it is challenging. Artistic horizons are broadened when seen through the lens of youth, and I hope you will help me support Sydney’s best young musicians in realising their professional futures.

ALEXANDER BRIGER

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CHIEF CONDUCTOR

AO

I have spent my life in a quest to be surrounded by the very best musicians that this city has to offer; little did I know that Sydney Youth Orchestras would be the company which allowed this dream to come true. There is something tangible about the energy that comes from hundreds and hundreds of talented young people converging to rehearse, learn and perform, and if, like me, you love classical music then I know you will become infected by their spirit. I dare you not to smile with delight when you hear a group of teenagers in the corridor talking about their favourite Mahler symphony! I invite you to share SYO with me – it is for the joy of music that we exist.

YARMILA ALFONZETTI CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

2

O U R

S T R O N G

F U T U R E

SYO begins 2016 with a new 3-year Strategic Plan focussing on four key values which will continue to deliver quality and opportunities for this vibrant company with a broad reach. The SYO strategic goals are: EXCELLENCE

nurturing artistic talent and delivering great education

PROFESSIONALISM

continually improving our business systems to best-practice contemporary standards

ENGAGEMENT

creating a consistent reliable experience for all contact with SYO

OPPORTUNITY

being entrepreneurial and planning for increased revenue and business growth

O U R

V I S I O N

SYO is a place where, through music, talented young instrumentalists come together to grow, to learn and to contribute to Australia’s cultural landscape.

O U R

M I S S I O N

To educate and nurture young people to achieve musical excellence through a structured program of orchestral training and performance.

3

O U R C O M P R E H E N S I V E T R A I N I N G P R O G R A M

Sydney Youth Orchestras is the premier orchestral training organisation in NSW, forging dynamic relationships between young musicians and Australia’s leading music educators, conductors, and performers.

For 43 years SYO has been the engine room of excellence and produced some of Australia’s finest musicians, educators and lovers of classical music.

Currently comprising 11 orchestras and ensembles, with a new Western Sydney Youth Orchestra commencing in 2017, SYO provides a weekly orchestral training program for close to 500 musicians aged 6 – 25 years.

Connecting all ensembles is the SYO Orchestral Training Framework, a comprehensive system ensuring that musicians progress through the orchestras, developing individual and ensemble skills under the careful guidance of SYO’s artistic staff.

Beyond equipping our members for careers as professional musicians, our program teaches teamwork, discipline, dedication, leadership, and a commitment to excellence.

Whatever career path these talented young people follow, they are likely to become leaders in and contributors to their community.

4

A T O

PAT H W AY E X C E L L E N C E

Our rigorous training pathway begins at earlystage music learning and culminates in training at a pre-professional level. The SYO model for student progression is based on technical ability, musical aptitude and maturity for ensemble playing.

This provides both SYO and students with a clear set of musical goals and an objective set of assessment standards. It is the combination of a process-based practice in a structured learning environment, and professional performance opportunities that makes SYO a unique training program nationally. The program is highly-respected and includes the modules, projects and activities which are vital to producing artistic vibrancy.

I still remember the butterflies when opening the letter that said my audition for the SYO was successful

Professional CONCERT PERFORMANCES in Sydney’s foremost venues

Intensive MUSIC CAMPS for all members

TALENT DEVELOPMENT projects across Sydney and NSW

WEEKLY ORCHESTRAL TRAINING by highly skilled music educators and renowned conductors

SECTIONAL TUTORIALS with members of the SSO, AOBO, ACO for all members

OUTREACH & TOURING Regional NSW, Interstate and Internationally

MASTERCLASSES with professional musicians

Emma Sholl ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL FLUTE SYDNEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

5

6

O U R O R C H E S T R A S & E N S E M B L E S

THE SYDNEY YOUTH ORCHESTRA The Sydney Youth Orchestra is the principal ensemble of the SYO family, attracting players who aspire to the highest level of orchestral performance and a future as a professional musician.

SYO PHILHARMONIC SYO Philharmonic is a full scale symphony orchestra where orchestral technique and ensemble skills are developed through playing the great works of the 19th and 20th centuries.

SYMPHONIC WIND ORCHESTRA Symphonic Wind Orchestra allows a large number of talented wind, brass and percussion players to broaden their repertoire knowledge.

THE PETER SEYMOUR ORCHESTRA The Peter Seymour Orchestra, named after the founder of the Sydney Youth Orchestras, is where our musicians tackle the important and essential classical orchestral repertoire of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven.

WESTERN SYDNE Y YOUTH ORCHESTRA Western Sydney Youth Orchestra is in exciting new initiative commencing development in 2016 and becoming fully operational in 2017 in partnership with the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre.

TA N G O O Z TangoOz gives young musicians the unique opportunity to learn and play authentic orchestral tango under the guidance of a specialist.

SYO is an amazing organisation where the most necessary and relevant training for life as a professional orchestral musician occurs. It provides the opportunity to learn from fantastic mentors and make wonderful friends, many of whom will last a lifetime Owen Morris PRINCIPAL TRUMPET ADELAIDE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

I doubt I would be where I am today if it were not for the Sydney Youth Orchestra Richard Tognetti ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

THE STRING ORCHESTRAL PROGRAM The String Orchestral Program is designed to provide a progressive pathway for talented, young string musicians to hone ensemble skills, sight reading, aural awareness and general string technique. The Program currently includes six ensembles with a flexible structure to allow for expansion.

7

8

O U R A R T I S T I C S TA F F

Alexander Briger AO, SYO’s Artistic Director & Chief Conductor, studied in Sydney and Munich and won first prize at the International Competition for Conductors in the Czech Republic in 1993. He later worked closely with Sir Charles Mackerras and Pierre Boulez.

He performs regularly with the Philharmonia Orchestra in London and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, including their tour to China in 2004. He made his BBC Proms and Berlin Festival debuts with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and Edinburgh Festival debut with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

In August 2010 he founded the Australian World Orchestra, of which he is the Artistic Director and Chief Conductor.

In Australia he has conducted all the State Symphony Orchestras. Alexander is in demand as an opera conductor having led The Rape of Lucretia (Covent Garden), The Magic Flute (Glyndebourne), Rigoletto and The Makropulos Case (English National Opera), The Cunning Little Vixen (Aix-en-Provence), and Pique Dame (Komische Oper, Berlin).

SYO prides itself on the high standard of conductors and educators who lead each of the orchestras and ensembles, including: Brian Buggy OAM James Pensini John Ockwell Maggie Ferguson Heloise Meisel Joanne Waples Nicholas Tester Peter Corkill Irina Andreeva Kathryn Crossing

9

SYO Philharmonic Symphonic Wind Orchestra Peter Seymour Orchestra TangoOz Sinfonietta Chamber Strings Camerata Vibrata Cameratissimo John Hopkins Orchestra Speer Orchestra

A C C E S S S Y O S TAT E SYO State is designed to increase participation and engagement in orchestral music across New South Wales. It aims to focus and expand the current outreach activity, establish stronger community engagement and relationships, identify and nurture talented young musicians and create an evaluation process to better understand the impact of this activity.

Through a detailed program of camps, workshops, masterclasses, concerts and creative partnerships, SYO State will develop a new Western Sydney Youth Orchestra based in Penrith and a regional orchestral music hub in Dubbo (Central West NSW).

&

O U T R E A C H

SYO State will help to facilitate the growth of Regional and Western Sydney musicians, whilst also providing support to music teachers and educators through professional development & skills transfer.

SYO SUMMER SCHOOL Led by highly respected conductors and experienced tutors, aspiring orchestral musicians will be given access to world class facilities, intensive workshops and the opportunity to perform in an orchestra.

With the music program developed by the SYO education team, players will build their skills in a fun, safe and artistically challenging environment.

CONCERTS FOR KIDS These unique performances are interactive concert series designed to ignite the interest in music and instruments for children ages 2-8. Our conductor and players lead children through each section of the orchestra and give hands on demonstration of how each instrument creates sound.

These concerts have been composed with the classical music young children love.

From Disney to classic nursery rhymes, audiences of all ages are encouraged to clap, dance and sing along.

10

S U P P O R T W H AT W E D O

With only 14% of our funding coming from government and 30% from our membership fees, SYO could not continue this work without the generosity of individual donors, foundations and our corporate partners. All funds raised ensure that we can: • Keep membership fees and additional project costs to a minimum • Provide Opportunity Scholarships to financially disadvantaged young people to take part in our program • Sponsor the Principal Chair of each instrumental section in The Sydney Youth Orchestra to assist the most talented young musicians in their pursuit of excellence • Develop talent identification programs ensuring the best musicians from across New South Wales have every opportunity to excel • Keep concert ticket prices low ensuring the opportunity to access classical music by the whole community • Provide the foundation training for the professional orchestras of today and the future.

Gifts can be made:

11

BY PHONE 02 9251 2422

ONLINE www.syo.com.au/giving

BY CHEQUE made payable to Sydney Youth Orchestras Inc. 182 Cumberland Street The Rocks NSW 2000

12

C O R P O R AT E PA R T N E R S

SYO offers unparalleled opportunities for corporates to invest in us for mutual benefit.

This strategic investment in young people and education is the cornerstone of the very best Corporate Social Responsibility policies.

SYO’s program not only equips members for a career as a professional musician; whatever career path these talented young people follow they are likely to become leaders in and contributors to the community. A recent American study found that young people who have access to the arts have more civic engagement as adults.

Corporate partnerships offer a way to meaningfully engage with a committed audience across various platforms, and SYO has the flexibility to adapt benefits. There are four key opportunities for engagement:

My wife and I consider SYO to have been the most formative influence on our childhood and I’m sure others would agree Professor Matthew Larkum HEAD, NEUROCURE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE, HUMBOLDT UNIVERSITY, BERLIN Heather Cottrell BAYERISCHER RUNDFUNK ORCHESTRA, MUNICH

• Acknowledgement on collateral at events, concerts, merchandise, and in marketing • Venue exposure • Hospitality including concert tickets, invitations to special events, private chamber music ensembles for corporate events, etc.

• Staff Involvement through joint skill sharing programs

S Y O

B O A R D

Jan Bowen AM Chair Anthony Bell Deputy Chair Geraldine Doogue AO Jon North Pieter Oomens Malcolm Long AM

13

SYO has never ceased to challenge and push me – extending my musical interests in more ways than I could have imagined, constantly guaranteeing highly rewarding results Niamh Armstrong 2016 OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT