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Coming Up

Sat 28 Nov 2009 11am - 12pm

Old Museum Concert Hall

Early History of Music in Brisbane - Dr Martin Buzacott with QYO String Quartet & organist Christopher Wrench

Calendar

Important Dates

 

Mon 16 Nov 09

Mailout of audition results for 2010 orchestras

 

Fri 27 Nov 09

Final date for accepting offers

 

Tue 19 Jan 10

Final date for payment of membership fees

 

Sat 30 Jan 10

QYS & QYO2 rehearsals commence

 

Fri 5 Feb 10

WS & WE rehearsals commence

 

Sat 6 Feb 10

QYO3 & JSE rehearsals commence

 

Sun 7 Feb 10

BB rehearsals commence

Mission

To promote and foster scholarship, interest, enthusiasm and social welfare in the learning, playing and appreciation of music in orchestral and other forms by youth.

General Information

Queensland Youth Orchestras (QYO) is the State’s major orchestral training and performance organisation for young musicians aged 10 to 23. Under the artistic leadership of John Curro AM MBE since 1966, QYO is renowned as a world-class youth orchestra organisation. QYO is a member of Youth Orchestras Australia (YOA), a network comprising the major state youth orchestras of Australia and the Australian Youth Orchestra.

QYO currently has eight ensembles: three symphony orchestras, two concert bands, a junior string orchestra, a chamber orchestra and a big band. Each group has its own program of activities including rehearsals, tutorials, concerts, camps and tours.

Each October, around 640 musicians audition for QYO before a panel of professional musicians and over 500 musicians are offered positions in orchestras. Performing members of QYO must re-audition for a place each year alongside new applicants.

QYO employs three full-time staff including a General Manager, an Administrator and a Marketing Officer in addition to a part-time Venue Manager, seven part-time conductors and over 100 professional musicians employed casually as tutors, audition panel members, accompanists, competition judges and guest artists. The organisation relies heavily on the services of volunteers as orchestra managers, librarians, stage managers and for assistance with concerts, fundraising, the canteen, uniforms, auditions, camps, mail-outs and maintenance tasks.

QYO is based at the Old Museum building in Bowen Hills. The venue allows several orchestras to rehearse simultaneously and houses a concert hall, rehearsal spaces, and the QYO Office.

QYO is a non-profit organisation requiring substantial funds to fulfil its mission. In order of magnitude, the organisation’s main sources of income are from membership fees, corporate sponsorship, grants from the State and Federal Governments through Arts Queensland and the Australia Council, concert income and fundraising activities.