Sydney Youth Orchestras To Be Led By Youngest Concertmaster

Marcus Michelsen

This April Sydney Youth Orchestras’ most talented young musicians from the greater Sydney region, aged between sixteen and twenty will be led by their youngest Concertmaster ever, 15-year-old Marcus Michelsen under the baton of Alexander Briger AO.

On the programme are Mahler’s Symphony No. 10 and Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, which celebrate heroes of 20th century orchestral modernism. Together, these complex works capture the vitality of large-scale compositional development to yield a dazzling musical experience. “The programme for SYO this year is the most daring in the orchestra’s history. For our first concert we enter a world that SYO has not done for some time, with two extremely difficult works, each with their own individual complexities” says Alexander Briger AO, Chief Conductor.

The Sydney Youth Orchestra is SYO’s flagship orchestra and features 70 of Sydney’s most talented young musicians. Since 1973, it has been the training ground for Australia’s future professional musicians, and its alumni can be heard in every major orchestra in Australia. The SYO provides outstanding and innovative training and performance activities that lead to the continued development of a musician’s technical and artistic excellence. Founded as a single orchestra in 1973 by the visionary music educator and conductor, Peter Seymour, the SYO has grown to become a community of over 500 young musicians, aged 6-24, from all over Sydney and beyond.

Previous Concertmasters of the SYO include Richard Tognetti AO, now Artistic Director of Australian Chamber Orchestra; Naoko Keatley, now violinist with London Symphony Orchestra, as well as numerous members of professional orchestras in around the nation.

Tickets Adult $50 | Concession $25 | Children $25 | Children 2 are free

Bookings or phone 02 9251 2422