The Scottish Chamber Orchestra and St Mary’s Music School are delighted to announce the launch of SCO Youth Academy.
Developed in partnership between the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and St Mary’s Music School, SCO Youth Academy is a new, high quality orchestra for young musicians, which will build on the recent success of the SCO String and Wind Academies. This unique and distinct youth orchestra will offer secondary school-aged young musicians the opportunity to work with top professionals over a series of Sunday afternoon sessions in the centre of Edinburgh. Designed to complement existing provision, it aims to enhance musical learning in a welcoming environment.
Conducted by SCO violinist Gordon Bragg and tutored by SCO musicians, the SCO Youth Academy is open to aspiring secondary school-aged orchestral musicians who have reached Grade 6+ for strings and timpani and percussion, Grade 7+ for winds and brass andwho are able to commit to a series of five sessions. Repertoire for this course is Sibelius' Finlandia and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade movements 1 and 3 and places will be allocated following submission of a successful video audition.
Kirsteen Davidson Kelly, Creative Learning Director at the Scottish Chamber Orchestra said: “The programme combines the outstanding musical skills of the SCO musicians and the educational expertise of St Mary’s to create - and I quote an SCO String Academy participants here - “a fantastic experience” playing “amazing music with really friendly people” in a “really good environment”. The range of abilities that young people develop through orchestral playing are hugely valuable transferable skills for their future. SCO Youth Academy will be a brilliant way to support successful learning, develop confidence, and give participants the opportunity to contribute to high-quality ensemble performance.”
Kenneth Taylor, Headteacher of St Mary’s Music School said: "St Mary's Music School is delighted to be working with SCO in offering advanced young musicians from all over Scotland the chance to work in a range of ensembles under the expert guidance of SCO musicians. Our courses so far have proved very popular, offering high quality music making in a friendly, supportive and inspiring environment. Next session we are excited to be offering both a full orchestral course in November followed by a repeat of our successful String and Wind Academies in Spring 2021."
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra and St Mary’s Music School are committed to making this opportunity accessible to all young musicians and means-tested bursaries for up to 100% of the £90 course fee and travel expenses are available.
The first session is scheduled to take place on Sunday 1 November 2020.
For further details and how to apply visit https://www.sco.org.uk/