Tees Valley Youth Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Tees Valley Youth Orchestra is the flagship orchestra
of the Tees Valley Music Service, and welcomes the best music students across the four borough
s of the Tees Valley
(Middlesbrough
, Redcar & Cleveland, Stockton-on-Tees
and Hartlepool
). The orchestra also draws some members from further afield, such as North Yorkshire. Rehearsals take place every Friday night from 6.00pm until 9.00pm at The Education Centre in Norton. The orchestra was originally conducted by David Kendall in the 1980s. David Kendal conducted the orchestra as well as being head of the music service and handed the baton to Chris Johns on retirement in 2006. From 2006 to 2010, the orchestra was conducted by Christopher Johns, who retired in December 2010 after being appointed as Director of Music at Leicester Cathedral
. Nicholas Nowicki has conducted the orchestra since January 2011, assisted by tutors who work with the different sections of the orchestra for the first half of approximately two-thirds of the rehearsals.
Highlights of the orchestra have included a concert performance of the popular opera Carmen
by Bizet, as well as the debut performance of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
's 'Symphony in A minor', which had been lost for many years. TVYO also performed Mu Ara, a piece it commissioned from the popular composer Geoffrey Palmer
. In recent years, the orchestra has performed all of Tchaikovsky's last three symphonies and in 2009 was invited to perform at the National Festival of Music for Youth
in Symphony Hall, Birmingham
.
The orchestra often forms a stepping stone for students into a musical career, and many students from the orchestra have gone on to play in National Youth ensembles.
The orchestra takes part in an annual European tour, and in recent years has visited France
, Catalonia
, Spain
, Italy
, Germany
, Belgium
and the Czech Republic
. The Tees Valley Youth Choir
join the orchestra when on tour abroad, and the two ensembles perform concerts together, often to packed, enthusiastic audiences.
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...
of the Tees Valley Music Service, and welcomes the best music students across the four borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
s of the Tees Valley
Tees Valley
The Tees Valley is an area in the North East of England. It can be described as "greater Teesside" and consists of the four unitary authorities created by the breakup of the County of Cleveland in 1996: Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland, and Stockton-On-Tees along with the borough of...
(Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, Redcar & Cleveland, Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
and Hartlepool
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
). The orchestra also draws some members from further afield, such as North Yorkshire. Rehearsals take place every Friday night from 6.00pm until 9.00pm at The Education Centre in Norton. The orchestra was originally conducted by David Kendall in the 1980s. David Kendal conducted the orchestra as well as being head of the music service and handed the baton to Chris Johns on retirement in 2006. From 2006 to 2010, the orchestra was conducted by Christopher Johns, who retired in December 2010 after being appointed as Director of Music at Leicester Cathedral
Leicester Cathedral
Leicester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Martin, Leicester is a Church of England cathedral in the English city of Leicester, and the seat of the Bishop of Leicester...
. Nicholas Nowicki has conducted the orchestra since January 2011, assisted by tutors who work with the different sections of the orchestra for the first half of approximately two-thirds of the rehearsals.
Highlights of the orchestra have included a concert performance of the popular opera Carmen
Carmen
Carmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
by Bizet, as well as the debut performance of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was an English composer who achieved such success that he was once called the "African Mahler".-Early life and education:...
's 'Symphony in A minor', which had been lost for many years. TVYO also performed Mu Ara, a piece it commissioned from the popular composer Geoffrey Palmer
Geoffrey Palmer
Sir Geoffrey Winston Russell Palmer, KCMG, AC, SC , served as the 33rd Prime Minister of New Zealand from August 1989 until September 1990, leading the Fourth Labour Government...
. In recent years, the orchestra has performed all of Tchaikovsky's last three symphonies and in 2009 was invited to perform at the National Festival of Music for Youth
Music for Youth
Music for Youth is a British charity which provides free access to educational and performance opportunities for groups of young musicians and audiences through a series of festivals and concerts throughout the UK. 2 million children have taken part in Music for Youth events since 1971...
in Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Symphony Hall is a 2,262 seat concert venue located inside the International Convention Centre in Birmingham, England. It was officially opened by the Queen in June 1991, although had been opened on April 15, 1991. It is home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and hosts around 270 events...
.
The orchestra often forms a stepping stone for students into a musical career, and many students from the orchestra have gone on to play in National Youth ensembles.
The orchestra takes part in an annual European tour, and in recent years has visited France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. The Tees Valley Youth Choir
Tees Valley Youth Choir
Tees Valley Youth Choir is a choir made up of 13- to 19-year-olds from the boroughs of Stockton-on-Tees, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Darlington, and Redcar & Cleveland. It also draws some members from further afield, particularly North Yorkshire and surrounding areas.The choir was established in...
join the orchestra when on tour abroad, and the two ensembles perform concerts together, often to packed, enthusiastic audiences.
About the TVMS
Tees Valley Music Service provides tuition and hire facilities for schoolchildren wishing to learn to play a musical instrument. It also provides ensembles for students to play in. The service is provided by Stockton Borough Council to local LEAs under a contractual arrangement.Other Tees Valley Ensembles
- The Tees Valley Youth Choir
- The Tees Valley Youth Wind Orchestra
- Tees Valley Youth Brass Band