Concertgebouworkest Young, the European youth orchestra for musicians aged 14 to 17, celebrates its fourth edition in August 2023. Never before has there been such great interest: Out of 412 registrations from 35 countries, 83 talented musicians have been selected.
Great demand
Concertgebouworkest Young was launched with great success in 2019. The youth orchestra is intended for young musicians from all over Europe who have insufficient visibility and deserve a boost. Such a project for young people who are not (yet) pursuing a formal music education but have considerable talent proves to meet a great need.
Concerts in Amsterdam and Berlin
On 8 August, the young musicians begin an intensive summer programme at Akoesticum in Ede. Afterwards, they present themselves under the direction of Andrés Orozco-Estrada in Amsterdam and Berlin as a youth orchestra that, with its many nationalities, reflects the diversity of Europe. On 23 August, Concertgebouworkest Young performs at the VriendenLoterij ZomerConcerten in Het Concertgebouw, on 25 August at the Konzerthaus Berlin. The concerts begin with Tchaikovsky's Fantasy-Overture 'Romeo and Juliet' and Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto with soloist María Dueñas. Then the young musicians perform a new work by Dutch composer Carlijn Metselaar, followed by Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.
Afterwards, the young musicians scatter to actively serve, like their predecessors, as ambassadors for classical music.
Musical and personal development
The summer programme in Ede includes group and orchestra rehearsals, chamber music, coaching sessions and workshops led by professional workshop leaders and lessons from musicians of Concertgebouworkest. Orchestra musicians provide lessons themselves and introduce the young musicians to the orchestra's playing tradition, with emphasis on ensemble playing, balance and collective sound production. There is also considerable attention paid to personal development. A programme specially developed in collaboration with United World Colleges Nederland promotes community spirit, democratic thinking and the personal development of young musicians through music.