The India Youth Orchestra was created to give young Indian musicians the chance of developing their talents and being exposed to western orchestral repertoire. In recent years there has been a significant increase of interest in western music education in India. Many music schools have either expanded, or have been newly founded in Indian cities. A major part of western instruments is used to build up a symphony orchestra; solo repertoire and lessons are incomplete without orchestra experience and this is unfortunately not available to young musicians in India. Hence our project endeavours to complement the existing western music education. The student will be exposed to masterpieces of western symphonic literature and will also learn team work, coordination and group dynamics- all these personal attributes are important for the success of an orchestra as a whole and also add to the personality development of an individual. The India Youth Orchestra also collaborates with the Oxford Mission in Kolkata and the Gandhi Ashram in Kalimpong emphasising on the participation of underprivileged youth in this project.
One of the future goals of the orchestra is to commission and perform new symphonic music with Indian content. At present we have about 50 musicians who come from ten different Indian states and demonstrate the unity in the cultural diversity of their country. We see ourselves as bridge builders between the various cultures of India as well as cultural ambassadors of India in the world. We are a young and dynamic institution and the only of our kind in India and our looking for partners and sponsors who want to share and spread our vision.
After the audition period in January 2011, a ten day workshop was held in April in Kolkata followed by a concert on the 26th of April at the Kala Mandir. An incredible amount of 58 string instrument players participated in the workshop and two important goals were achieved: Firstly we had players from ten different Indian states and a nationwide evaluation of the level of instrumental playing was done. Secondly a double bass workshop was held with an Austrian teacher and five Indian students. This marks the beginning of the systematic teaching of double bass in India after many decades of interruption. In addition a visiting quartet of the Vienna University Orchestra gave technical inputs to the Indian players. The repertoire of the concert ranged from movements from the Tchaikovsky, Dvorak and Elgar string serenades to Brittens Simple Symphony and the Concerto in a minor by Vivaldi.
The orchestra will perform two concerts in Delhi at the end of May. The repertoire of the two concerts will be the 8th Symphony by Beethoven, the Overture „Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt“ by Mendelssohn, the 5th Symphony by Schubert and the String Serenade by Elgar. One of the concerts will mark the official opening ceremony on the 31st May for "Germany and India 2011-2012: Infinite Opportunities". This concerts will be performed in collaboration with the students of the Folkwang Music University in Essen, Germany.
In August string teachers from Austria will travel to Kolkata, Bangalore and Goa and give individual lessons to the orchestra members; emphasising especially on bowing techniques. This will also be an opportunity for new players to audition for the orchestra.
In the first 10 days of November, a nation wide workshop will be held in Bangalore followed by a concert.
Between 26th Dec. 2011 and 4th Jan. 2012 a conductor will travel to Kolkata, Bangalore and Goa and prepare Mozarts opera, the Magic Flute which will then be performed mid January in Delhi and Mumbai in cooperation with the Neemrana Foundation.
The Neemrana Music Foundation
Austrian Culture Forum
New Dehli
Rimo Expeditions
Calcutta School of Music
Delhi School of Music
