NYOW 2011

So having pretty much recovered from the summer residency it is time to turn our thoughts to 2012. But before we do that, maybe a little reflection on NYOW 2011 and what that brought.

With a raft of senior members leaving us last September, 2011 brought the largest number of new members to the NYOW – forty two in total, or over a third of the Orchestra. 2011 also saw a chamber orchestra of senior and recent former members accompany the National Youth Choir of Wales in a fantastic performance of Beethoven’s Mass in C at the Fishguard Festival in St Davids Cathedral.

But perhaps the biggest change for the NYOW this year was working with a new conductor. Maestro Takuo Yuasa brought with him not only a wealth of experience and musicality, but also a keen sense of humour, and he fitted in with the NYOW from the get-go. A sign of the respect afforded him by the members of the Orchestra was the near constant flash of cameras in the bar after the final performance in Cardiff.

And the concerts, well what can I say? Full of energy, musicianship and passion, with the performances getting better and better as the tour went on. The Orchestra, despite its number of fledgling members coped with the rigours of a challenging programme and lengthy bus journeys to do the ‘Nash’ name proud. A lengthy standing ovation from a large audience in Cardiff was no more than they deserved.

And so onto 2012, well almost! Despite the application deadline looming at the end of September and the annual tour of auditions in November, we have time for one last hurrah. 2011 heralds a milestone in the history of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales as it celebrates its 65^th Anniversary. To mark the occasion we have a Winter Ball planned for the 18^th November. We are hoping as many current and former members from throughout the Orchestra’s long history will be able to join us and help us celebrate this wonderful achievement. Here’s to the next 65 years and beyond!