Next WYO concert Sunday 10 October 3.30 pm

Posted on Tue 28th September 2021Tue 28th September 2021 by Anne French

Our final concert of the year will take place on Sunday 10 October, St Andrew’s on the Terrace, at 3.30 pm – subject to Level 2 restrictions. (Please scan in and wear a mask.)

We are delighted to present our Concerto Competition winner, Peter Gjelsten, playing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto – despite some programme changes due to Covid Level 3 in Auckland. This will be our last concert for 2021, but it promises to be one of our best.

The other work is Beethoven’s Egmont Overture – a triumphant way to close off a challenging year.

We hope you can join us. Tickets $20 at the door. Students and all unwaged – gold coin.

What the critics said about our last concert

Posted on Tue 28th September 2021Tue 28th September 2021 by Anne French

From the Middle C review of our Leonore concert, Saturday 31 July 2021

‘Conductor Andrew Joyce drew real exuberance from his players…

‘Nowhere in this work is Dvořák more “Bohemian” than with the Scherzo, whose main body is a Furiant, an exciting, quick-moving dance-form seeming to move between two-four and three-four rhythm. Joyce kept his players on their toes throughout, varying the dynamics in an ear-catching way, and delineating the trajectories firmly…’

Read the whole review here: https://middle-c.org/2021/07/wellington-youth-orchestra-and-andrew-joyce-take-on-quintessential-beethoven-and-dvorak/

Peter Gjelsten wins 2021 Concerto Competition

Posted on Tue 7th September 2021Tue 7th September 2021 by Anne French

WYO is proud to announce that Peter Gjelsten is the 2021 Concerto Competition winner. He will play the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in the WYO’s Showcase concerts on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 October. The concerts will go ahead if Wellington is in Level 1.

WYOs alumna Gemma New is the 2021 Solti Fellow

Posted on Tue 9th March 2021Tue 9th March 2021 by Anne French

Former WYO and WYS violinist Gemma New has been named the Solti Fellow 2021. This is the biggest grant given to US conductors. Gemma has been based in the US since she went there to study conducting at the Peabody Institute, after graduating from Canterbury in music and mathematics. She was back in New Zealand late in 2020 to conduct the NZSO: https://www.nzso.co.nz/new-zealands-orchestra/news-and-media/gemma-new-conducts-the-nzso-again-with-four-streamed-performances-this-month/

The full story of the award is here: https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU2103/S00087/new-zealand-born-conductor-gemma-new-recipient-of-2021-solti-fellow.htm

WYO 2021 Season announced

Posted on Tue 9th February 2021Tue 9th February 2021 by Anne French

The programme for the 2021 season is here. Auditions are now open – audition form under the Auditions tab. Project 1, Transatlantic, includes Barber’s Violin Concerto, Britten’s Sinfonia da Requiem, and Gershwin’s An American in Paris. Concert Saturday 15 May.

WYO-2021-Programme-ƒ Download

Lex French, WYS alumnus, headlines Jazz Festival

Posted on Thu 18th April 2019Thu 18th April 2019 by Anne French

Lex French is bringing his quartet from Canada, Code Quartet, to headline the Jazz Festival. Top of the bill is the great Herbie Hancock. Code Quartet is just a little further down… Lex is the guy on the far left(trumpet not visible).

https://www.jazzfestival.nz/events/code-quartet/

Gemma New, WYS alumna and conducting superstar, on the cover of MUSICIAN

Posted on Thu 18th April 2019Thu 18th April 2019 by Anne French

Our famous alumna Gemma New, MD of Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra in Ontario, Canada, has recently appeared on the front cover of MUSICIAN, the American Federation of Musicians magazine. Here’s the cover: