Nottingham Youth Orchestra
Encyclopedia
Nottingham Youth Orchestra is an orchestra
based in Nottingham
for young instrumentalists selected by audition. The orchestra was founded in 1985 by the late Stephen Fairlie and Derek Williams who is the orchestra's musical director to this day.
The orchestra has gained a reputation for a high level of performance in both the United Kingdom and internationally (on its annual tours). There are at least four major Youth Orchestra concerts in the Nottingham area each year, typically including venues such as the Royal Concert Hall
, Southwell Minster
and the Albert Hall
, and the orchestra has toured places as far afield as the USA and Cyprus
.
The orchestra has commissioned work by various composer
s and performed the world premieres of 'Mosaic' by Nick Sackman
at the Edinburgh
International Festival in 2002 and 'The Death of Stalin' by Robert Steadman
in March 2003 at Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall
. It has also premiered a Jazz Violin Concerto by John Dankworth
.
At the Music for Youth National festival at the Royal Festival Hall
in London in July 2003, the orchestra was highly commended for its performance.
The Nottingham Youth Jazz Orchedstra (Notts NYJO) was formed in Spring 2008 to provide opportunities for youth players to practice and perform jazz both in smaller (combo) and Big Band settings. It features distinctive unique arrangements. Its patron is the internationally regarded Tony Kofi, a jazz saxophonist and band leader who hails from Nottingham. Notts NYJO has been on tour with the NYO to Italy. It performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2010 and at the Newark Jazz Festival in the same year. Phil Smith is the Musical Director.
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
based in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
for young instrumentalists selected by audition. The orchestra was founded in 1985 by the late Stephen Fairlie and Derek Williams who is the orchestra's musical director to this day.
The orchestra has gained a reputation for a high level of performance in both the United Kingdom and internationally (on its annual tours). There are at least four major Youth Orchestra concerts in the Nottingham area each year, typically including venues such as the Royal Concert Hall
Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
The Royal Concert Hall in the English city of Nottingham, is part of the city's Royal Centre, which also incorporates the Victorian Theatre Royal...
, Southwell Minster
Southwell Minster
Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...
and the Albert Hall
Albert Hall, Nottingham
The Albert Hall, Nottingham, is a City Centre Conference and Concert venue, situated in Nottingham, England.-History:The original Albert Hall was started in 1873 as a Nottingham Temperance Hall. Watson Fothergill, a local architect won the commission. On completion the building cost around £15,000 ,...
, and the orchestra has toured places as far afield as the USA and Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
.
The orchestra has commissioned work by various composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
s and performed the world premieres of 'Mosaic' by Nick Sackman
Nick Sackman
Dr Nicholas Sackman, is an English classical composer-Education:Sackman studied composition at the University of Nottingham, completed his MA at the University of Leeds with the composer Alexander Goehr in 1974, and was subsequently awarded a Doctorate of Music from the University of Nottingham in...
at the Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
International Festival in 2002 and 'The Death of Stalin' by Robert Steadman
Robert Steadman
Robert Steadman is a British composerof classical music who mostly works in a post-minimalist style but also writes lighter music, including musicals, and compositions for educational purposes...
in March 2003 at Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall
Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
The Royal Concert Hall in the English city of Nottingham, is part of the city's Royal Centre, which also incorporates the Victorian Theatre Royal...
. It has also premiered a Jazz Violin Concerto by John Dankworth
John Dankworth
Sir John Phillip William Dankworth, CBE , known in his early career as Johnny Dankworth, was an English jazz composer, saxophonist and clarinetist...
.
At the Music for Youth National festival at the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
in London in July 2003, the orchestra was highly commended for its performance.
The Nottingham Youth Jazz Orchedstra (Notts NYJO) was formed in Spring 2008 to provide opportunities for youth players to practice and perform jazz both in smaller (combo) and Big Band settings. It features distinctive unique arrangements. Its patron is the internationally regarded Tony Kofi, a jazz saxophonist and band leader who hails from Nottingham. Notts NYJO has been on tour with the NYO to Italy. It performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2010 and at the Newark Jazz Festival in the same year. Phil Smith is the Musical Director.