On Friday 25th July, thirty-two keen orchestral students made their way to Cootamundra High School for an afternoon concert, where they performed to teachers and students from both the Cootamundra High and Public Schools.
The Cootamundra Public School has had a long-standing string program running through the Riverina Conservatorium of Music, with many students now continuing with their string playing as high school students. Visits such as these are invaluable for students in regional areas, so they can see and hear other students of similar ages performing.
The BlueScope Youth Orchestra then travelled through to The Riverina Anglican College (TRAC) in Wagga Wagga, to participate in a joint workshop with students from the TRAC String Sinfonia, and the TRAC Septet directed by Australian Cellist and teacher Clare Brassil.
An evening concert followed with both ensembles performing their own pieces before finishing the event with a new joint performance of the workshop piece: Finale from the Serenade for Strings by Tchaikovsky.
Saturday (26th July) was spent at the Riverina Conservatorium of Music for joint rehearsals and performances with students from the RCM Camerata.
The morning workshop for the BSYO was directed by Jane Hazelwood, a recently retired Sydney Symphony viola player, tutor for Australian Youth Orchestra Young Symphonists program, and a Director of Riverina Summer School for Strings.
The combined afternoon sessions were directed by Jacqui Smith, RCM Head of Strings, and conductor of RCM Camerata, with instrumental tutorials by Jane Hazelwood, Miffy Ryan and Tanya Phillips. The day also concluded with an evening concert for family and friends.
The orchestra then set it sights on Temora for Sunday 27th July, starting with breakfast at the Junee Chocolate and Liquorice Factory, before performing in a 1.30pm concert in Temora Bowling Club, hosted by the Temora Performing Arts Society.
This Tour marked both the beginning and end of an era, as this was the first time all our new BSYO members were part of a tour, and was the last tour by flautists Annabel Wouters and Elleanor Pasztor, as they prepare for the HSC and University years ahead.
Annabel and Elleanor have both toured internationally with the BSYO to New Zealand and Indonesia and concluded this regional tour as featured soloists performing the Vivaldi Double Flute Concerto. We wish them all the very best, and hope to see them back next year at some stage to help the orchestra celebrate it’s 40th Anniversary!
WollCon staff who managed the mini tour were Tanya Phillips and Miffy Ryan.
