Director Tim Boulton
CYO in rehearsal side by side with the BBC Symphony Orchestra
For over 40 years CYO has been providing opportunities for young instrumentalists from across Cornwall and beyond to experience the challenges and rewards of playing in a full symphony orchestra. The orchestra has offered invaluable experience to a succession of CYO members who have gone on to play with the South West Youth Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and European Union Youth Orchestra, to study at Music Conservatoire and in some cases, to distinguished careers in music.
The CYO experience is all about developing musical teamwork and enjoying being part of the buzz of orchestral life. The music is at the core of the experience, whether big symphonies, film scores, music by contemporary composers or other great works from across the last two centuries. Players are supported on the courses by coaches who are often but not exclusively members of the Music Cornwall teaching team along with welfare staff from Cornwall Youth Service. But in each of the last 6 years CYO has also enjoyed the support of top professional musicians including from the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra and recently from New York’s ground-breaking chamber ensemble Decoda and from the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
The biggest highlight of the last 2 seasons has probably been performing at a capacity Royal Albert Hall in London as guests of the Federation of Cornish Male Voice Choirs in November 2013, but each of the concerts that take place around Easter every year have been memorable for their interesting programming and the determination and musical conviction of the players. The young musicians’ report that CYO performances provide and environment where they feel able to excel themselves, where they feel uplifted by the common experience and where they achieve their personal best.
CYO perform at the Royal Albert Hall by invitation of the Confederation of Cornish Male Voice Choirs
CYO is directed by Tim Boulton who shares many years of his own professional experience with the players, but the orchestra also benefits from what is possibly a unique situation amongst British youth orchestras – the majority of the music in the present season is being conducted by Angus Webster who is the same age as many of the players.
CYO members have benefitted from a number of collaborations and projects in the last few years. In July 2012 CYO played at Symphony Hall, Birmingham at the National Festival of Music for Youth. The 2011-12 season included a Truro Cathedral performance of Graham Fitkin’s work PK alongside an additional ‘Family Orchestra’ of 110 players of all ages, supported by members of the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Rehearsal Dates at Truro High School
Saturday 22 November 2014
Sunday 7 December 2014
Saturday 17 January 2015
Sunday 8 February 2015
Saturday 7 March 2015
CYO Easter Residential is taking place between Thursday 9 April and Saturday 11 April 2015 at Truro High School
CYO Easter Concerts are taking place on Sunday 12 April 2015 at Launceston Town Hall (Afternoon rehearsal and evening Concert) AND Saturday 18 April 2015 at Truro Cathedral (Afternoon rehearsal and evening Concert)
Details of rehearsal dates for parents:
