Sydney Youth Orchestras (SYO), in partnership with Riverside Theatres, is proud to announce the very first Western Sydney Youth Orchestra (WSYO). This new orchestra pulls together the best young musicians from across western Sydney and the Mountains.
Established in consultation with community and responding to the needs of young aspirational musicians, WSYO will enhance and complement the already excellent work undertaken by music teachers and schools in the area.
The orchestra includes five Blue Mountains musicians: from Katoomba, Leura, Woodford, Winmalee and Hawkesbury Heights.
Led by highly regarded educator and conductor James Pensini, this classical orchestra will focus on the great works of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven as a core part of the SYO orchestral training framework.
Pensini rose through the ranks of the SYO family himself on trumpet and is now Head of Brass, Woodwind and Percussion and Head of Bands at St Aloysius’ College, Milsons Point. He also conducts the SYO’s Symphonic Wind Orchestra.
The new WYSO, supported by founding partners Fort Street Capital with Dixon Advisory, aims to provide educational opportunities for musicians in greater western Sydney.
“Young western Sydney musicians might have been dissuaded from auditioning for SYO because of the distance to our main operations in Sydney city,” said SYO CEO Yarmila Alfonzetti. “We have shifted ourselves to where the musicians are, bringing SYO to them.”
The establishment of WSYO will encourage musicians who might not be able to make it into Sydney’s CBD for rehearsals.
“We have 15-year-old boys hanging around after rehearsals discussing their favourite Mahler symphony or Strauss Tone Poem,” Alfonzetti said. “The WSYO will have the same opportunities and educational experiences as the other senior orchestras in SYO.”
The inaugural performance is at 2pm on Sunday, March 26 at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta. Tickets are $15 (adults) and $10 (children) plus booking fee. Available at www.syo.com.au or 9251 2422.