Emily Jones shares her preparation for the Annual Fancy Dress competition

The fancy dress preparations have begun! Local shops shiver in fear as they are terrorised by member of the Nash in search of cardboard, paint and various craft items in readiness for Wednesday night. Our kitchen is currently full of dirty paintbrushes and oddly shaped cardboard and most other kitchens in the university accommodation are too.

The competition is fierce for this year’s difficult theme of Dukas’ ‘La Peri’ – everybody wants the best costume and everyone is fighting for the most original idea.

Unfortunately, the details of our group’s costume are secret and cannot be disclosed on a public forum that other members of the orchestra may see. All will be revealed on Wednesday evening when we are certain that there is no longer any chance of nashers stealing our ideas. Expect an update later next week!

 

Catrin reflects on her 1st few days on 'The Nash'. / Uchafbwyntiau'r diwrnodau cyntaf Catrin ar y 'Nash'.

Fy enw i yw Catrin Williams a’r flwyddyn hon rwyf wedi cael fy newis i fod yn aelod o Gerddorfa Cenedlaethol Ieuenctid Cymru 2015. Fel myfyriwr cerdd ym mhrifysgol Birmingham, mae cael fy newis i fod yn aelod o gerddorfa ieuenctid cyntaf y byd yn fraint anhygoel. Rwyf wedi mwynhau dyddiau cyntaf y cwrs yn fawr iawn ac wedi cael cymryd rhan mewn ambell o weithgareddau cymdeithasol. Mae pawb yma’n gyfeillgar ac yn barod i ymdrechu’n galed er mwyn cynhyrchu cyngerdd o safon uchel. Mae o hefyd wedi bod yn hwyl cael chwarae amryw o ddarnau newydd. Ar ol cael ychydig o dyddiau gyda Adrian Dunn (tiwtor 1^st violins) yn arwain, rydym newydd gael ein ymarfer cyntaf gyda Paul Daniel. Rwy’n edrych ymlaen i weddill y cwrs ac ar gyfer y cyngerddau sy’n cael ei cynnal ar draws Cymru. Mae yna hefyd  amryw o weithgareddau hwyl eraill, fel paratoi ar gyfer noson ‘ffansi dress’, syn draddodiad blynyddol yn ol son. Mae’r cwrs wedi bod yn brofiad anhygoel hyd yn hyn ac mae’n anrhydedd mawr cael bod yn rhan anhono.

My name is Catrin Williams and this year I have been chosen to be a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales 2015. As a music student at the University of Birmingham, being chosen to be a member of the first youth orchestra in the world is a massive honour. I’ve immensely enjoyed the first few days of the course and have enjoyed taking part in various social activities. It’s also definitely been great fun playing a variety of repertoire. After a few days with Adrian Dunn (1^st violin tutor) conducting the orchestra, Paul Daniel has arrived today and we’ve just had our first full rehearsal with him. I’m looking forward to the rest of the course and performing in the concerts across Wales. I’m also looking forward to the rest of the social activities, especially the fancy dress night, which I’ve heard is a ‘Nash tradition’. The course has been great so far and I feel very privileged to be a member.

Catrin Williams (Ffidl / Violin)

Elain gives her thoughts on the NYOW Residency so far / Dyma trosolwg Elain o'r cwrs hyd at hyn.

Gyda ail ddiwrnod y cwrs bron a dod i ben, rydw i’n teimlo’n hollol gartrefol yng nghwmni teulu’r Nash. Mae aelodau’r gerddorfa, y staff a’r tiwtoriaid yn hynod o glen ac mae pawb fel un teulu mawr. Roedd hi’n braf cael cyfle i ddod i adnabod aelodau y grwpiau lles yn well neithiwr ac rwy’n edrych ymlaen at y gweithgareddau nosweithiol fel yr Olympics heno! Roedd yr ymarfer llawn cyntaf neithiwr yn deimlad rhyfeddol ac roedd hi’n braf cael cyd-chwarae gyda offerynnau’r gerddorfa a cherddorion mor dalentog – oedd yn gwneud i mi edrych ymlaen hyd yn oed yn fwy at y cyngherddau!

Mae’r lleoliad preswyl yn hynod o hwylus a’r bwyd yn fendigedig (!). Mae ymarferion adrannol y telynnau wedi bod yn andros o hwyl dan arweiniad Eluned Pierce. Edrychaf ymlaen at ginio’r tiwtoriaid nos Wener i ddiolch iddi am ei gwaith.

Rwy’n edrych ymlaen i weld beth fydd y cyfansoddwyr ifanc wedi eu cyfansoddi ar gyfer y telynnau ar ol iddynt ddod draw i gwrdd a’r telynnau ac i gael gwybod mwy am dechnegau’r delyn yn gynharach heddiw. Bydd cael clywed y darnau gorffenedig yn un o uchafbwyntiau’r cwrs yn sicr!

Carolyn looks forward to the NYOW concert in North Wales! / Mae Carolyn yn edrych ymlaen at gyngerdd CGIC yng Ngogledd Cymru

In 2012 I had the most phenomenal time on my first Nash course. Nearly everything was perfect... apart from not having a concert in North Wales! For the following two years we were lucky enough to do a concert in North Wales (Llandudno 2013 and St Asaph 2014) and the number of 'Gogs' in the Nash has increased year by year - yaaay!! In 2012 we had 5 members from Gwynedd & Mon and a total of 15 North Walians - now we've doubled it to 10 from Gwynedd & Mon and nearly 30 Gogs this year. In the violins we now have 14 from NW which I think is just incredible. This year we're lucky enough to be playing in PJ Hall Bangor, which I'm SO excited about as it's in my home area and such a beautiful hall. I have loads of great memories of PJ as I've done many concerts in the hall from County GYWM orchestra concerts to the North Wales Youth Orchestra concerts and I can't wait to add the Nash to that list!

As the North Wales concert is in my home area, I've been busy helping the Nash publicity team advertise the concert as much as possible - from online advertising on Facebook and Twitter to sticking up posters all around the town to handing out flyers to as many people as possible! Having a decent audience gives us as performers such a great buzz and I would absolutely love to share our music-making with as many people as possible. So I guess I'd better do a final advertising post to end this blog... 28th July 7:30pm, PJ Hall Bangor - Do not miss what promises to be a spectacular concert by the World's first National Youth Orchestra! Please come along to support us and bring all your family and friends with you - magnificent musicians playing marvellous music in a breathtaking venue, what more could you want?! Oh, and it's also our first concert of the tour so it would be great to get the 2015 Nash tour off to a cracking start in North Wales!!!

Prichard Jones Hall, Bangor
28 July, 7.30pm

£14 (£12), £5 rhai dan 25

03700 101 051

Yn 2012 cefais yr amser mwyaf anhygoel ar fy nghwrs Nash gyntaf. Oedd bron popeth yn berffaith... ar wahân i beidio cael cyngerdd yng Ngogledd Cymru! Am y ddwy flynedd nesaf roeddem yn ddigon ffodus i wneud cyngerdd yng Ngogledd Cymru fel rhan o'r daith Nash (Llandudno 2013 a Llanelwy 2014) ac mae'r nifer o 'Gogs' yn y Nash wedi cynyddu o flwyddyn i flwyddyn - ieeei!! Yn 2012 roedd gennym 5 aelod o Wynedd a Môn a cyfanswm o 15  Gogs, a rwan rydym wedi dyblu i 10 o Wynedd a Môn a bron i 30 Gogs eleni. Yn enwedig yn y ffidlau gan fod gennym 14 ffidl o NW sydd yn fy marn i yn anhygoel. Eleni rydym yn ddigon ffodus i gael gyngerdd arall yng Ngogledd Cymru a bydd hwn yn cael ei gynnal yn Neuadd PJ, Bangor a dwi MOR gyffrous am hyn gan ei fod yn fy ardal gartref ac yn neuadd mor brydferth. Mae gen i lawer o atgofion wych o PJ gan fy mod i wedi gwneud llawer o gyngherddau yn y neuadd - o gyngherddau gerddorfa sir GYWM at y cyngherddau Cerddorfa Ieuenctid Gogledd Cymru a dwi'n edrych ymlaen at ychwanegu'r Nash at y rhestr hon!

Gan fod y cyngerdd Gogledd Cymru yn fy ardal cartref, rydw i wedi bod yn brysur yn helpu'r Nash hysbysebu cyngerdd PJ cymaint â phosibl - o hysbysebu ar-lein o Facebook a Twitter i rhoi posteri fyny o amgylch y dref i ddosbarthu flyers i gymaint o bobl ag dwi'n gallu! Mae cael cynulleidfa dda yn rhoi 'buzz' mor wych i ni fel perfformwyr a byddwn wrth fy modd i rannu ein cerddoriaeth gyda chymaint o bobl ag sy'n bosib. Felly ddylwn i orffen y blog yma gyda hysbyseb arall dwi'n meddwl... 28 Gorffennaf 7:30pm,  Neuadd PJ Bangor - Peidiwch â cholli allan ar wylio be sydd am fod yn gyngerdd ysblennydd gan y Gerddorfa Cenedlaethol Ieuenctid cyntaf yn y byd! Dewch i'n cefnogi a dewch a'ch holl deulu a'ch ffrindiau - cerddorion gwych yn chwarae cerddoriaeth gwych mewn lleoliad syfrdanol, beth arall y gallech chi eisiau?! O, ac mae hwn hefyd yn ein cyngerdd cyntaf y daith felly byddai'n wych i gychwyn y daith Nash 2015 gyda dechrau dda yn Ngogledd Cymru!!!

Neuadd Prichard Jones, Bangor
28 Gorfennaf, 7.30pm
£14 (£12), £5 rhai dan 25
03700 101 051

Osian gives his thoughts on the upcoming Residency

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NYOW '14 Cello section in rehearsal0

Looking at the music for the course this year, I must say I am a little nervous. I hadn't heard of any of the music except Rite of Spring but still hadn't played any of them. I'm more nervous because it's very much out of my comfort zone. But still the music does look very exiting and it will be a great experience to play something different.

The Nash Olympics!

The venues this year are, as always, brilliant venues that I can't wait to play in. I'm most exited for the P.J Hall in Bangor because I've heard some great things about the place and it's also where my mother did her music degree. I'm also looking forward to St. David's in Cardiff. It was an amazing experience last time and I loved it so much I can't wait to play there again.

The residency on Nash is brilliant. There are four different blocks: the over 18 boys, over 18 girls, under 18 boys and under 18 girls. All blocks have such a happy atmosphere where you're surrounded by friends and colleagues. The first day for me was extremely welcoming. I instantly found myself with friends. But you also get to socialise with the other blocks at the breaks and in the S.U.

NYOW '14 Cello Section at Tutor's Dinner

Grace's 4 years of Fancy Dress Excellence!

Every day of the course, we have long and intensive rehearsals, but in the evenings we have a change to relax with friends while doing a variety of activities. The one I look forward to most every year is fancy dress. Over the past few years my group of friends have clubbed together and made giant cardboard costumes relating to the themes (which are based on one of the pieces we are playing that year). We use every free moment we have finding old discarded boxes to glue together, finding the right coloured paint, buying scissors (because after 6 years we still manage to forget to bring a pair to the residency every time…) and getting together the other bits and bobs we might need.

Here are a few of the ones we’ve done over the years which I am particularly proud of!

2010, ‘La Mer’. We decided to create a cardboard whale, and paint our legs blue to complete the whole look.

2011, ‘Feathers’. We made a feather bed, complete with fake bodies and holes for the head to look like there were people in it! Our costumes were just our pyjamas, making it the most comfy fancy dress party ever! I’m proud to say we also won this year’s competition!

2012, ‘An American in Paris’. We decided to go as French fries, so made a chip packet and used poster paint to make ourselves yellow (sadly, the colour wouldn’t come off in the shower so we stayed yellow-ish for a large portion of the course…). We also won this year too!

2013, ‘Byzantium’. The theme this year was a piece based on a poem, and one of the lines in the poem was ‘Hail the superhuman’, so naturally we decided to make a taxi filled with superheroes. (we were robbed of first place this year to great disappointment with the whole team).

This year’s theme is ‘La Peri’. Time to start planning the costume…

(Grace Buttler, Violin)

Thoughts on the Nash Repertoire this summer

Opening Bars of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring

I had never heard either Schmitt’s La Tragedie de Salome or Dukas’s La Péri until I found out we were playing them on the course. Now I have listened to them, I think that they are both really interesting pieces and they should throw up some challenges and fun moments. However, the piece I am most looking forward to is The Rite of Spring by Stravinsky. It is an incredible piece but really difficult as well; just looking at the part is slightly scary in its own right. Not many people our age can say that they have played it and I think it will be a lot of fun getting to grips with it. (Sam Buttler, Oboe)

Costume design for Nijinsky's La Peri

Wedi derbyn y gerddoriaeth drwy'r post dw i hyd yn oed yn fwy cyffrous ar gyfer y cwrs. Es ati yn syth i wrando arnynt ar youtube gan fod y darnau i gyd yn ddiarth i mi, ac rwyf wedi gwirioni efo'r Schmitt a'r Dukas a dwi wrth fy modd efo'r Stravinsky (er bod 'na ddim darn ar gyfer telyn!). Mae'r darnau telyn yn edrych yn eithaf heriol ond dw i'n edrych mlaen at y sialens! Mae'r amrywiaeth o fewn y rhaglen yn wych a dwi'n siwr y bydd y cynulleidfaoedd wedi gwirioni ac yn gwerthfawrogi'r rhaglen sy'n amrwyio o ddawns y ballet Ffrengig i drasiedi. (Elain Rhys Jones, Telyn)

After receiving the music through the post I'm even more excited for the course! I instantly searched for the pieces on YouTube since they are all new to me, and I absolutely love the Schmitt and the Dukas as well as the Stravinsky(although it excludes harps!). The harp parts seem very challenging but I'm extremely looking forward for the challenge! The variety within the musical programme is wonderful and I'm certain that the audiences will appreciate the programme that varies from a French ballet dance to a tragedy. (Elain Rhys Jones, Harp)

Emily shares her thoughts on Nash concert venues

One of the best feelings for me is when you’re touring, you’re exhausted and aching after days of rehearsals and you’re finally on your way to a concert. This is it – the moment you’ve been preparing for. The bus journeys are long and the chants coming from the back of the bus are loud but you can’t help but join in. Then, after screaming the words to Bohemian Rhapsody at the top of your lungs, you finally arrive at the concert venue, and oh my goodness it’s beautiful.

Last year’s course took us to St David’s Cathedral in Pembrokeshire, The Sage (Gateshead), St Asaph Cathedral and the ever popular St David’s Hall in Cardiff. All of these are absolutely stunning venues. For me, my favourite venue was probably St David’s Cathedral. The acoustics were mind blowing. It’s such a great feeling to hear that final chord of a piece booming around the venue after you’ve finished playing.

I always do a quick Google images search for the venues that we will be playing in before the course (please tell me I’m not the only one that does this?) and this year’s venues do not disappoint! I’m really looking forward to each one but I’m particularly excited to play in Hereford Cathedral! I’d really recommend looking it up if you haven’t already. What an amazing venue.

All of the concerts last year were amazing. The post-concert buzz that everyone gets is incredible and the excitement on the buses after leaving the venue knowing that you’ve just pulled of a pretty amazing concert is insane. Everybody has so much energy. However, the final concert in Cardiff is a special one. Everybody knows that it’s the end of the course and, my goodness, we end the course on a high! There are some emotional goodbyes between friends, many hugs and ‘see you next year’s. Yet, these people were complete strangers to you just two weeks ago! It just shows how much the Nash really gets you to bond with other people. Everyone is friends with everyone and they will go on to becoming your friends for life. You’ll never forget the Nash (especially your first course) so make the most of it. The Nash is truly an unforgettable experience. (Emily Jones, Violin)

Cyngherddau CGIC 2015 / NYOW Concerts 2015

Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Ieuenctid Cymru

National Youth Orchestra of Wales

Arweinydd / Conductor: Paul Daniel CBE

Dukas - La Peri

Schmitt - La Tragédie de Salomé

Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring

Prichard Jones Hall, Bangor

Neuadd Prichard Jones, Bangor

28 Gorffennaf / July 7.30pm
£14 (£12), £5 rhai dan 25 / under 25s
Tocynnau / Tickets - 03700 101 051
(Bydd costau daearyddol safonol o ffonau a ffonau symudol yn berthnasol /
   Standard geographic charges from landlines and mobiles will apply)

Gŵyl y Tri Chôr, Eglwys Gadeiriol Henffordd

Three Choirs Festival, Hereford Cathedral
30 Gorffennaf / July 2.30pm

£34, £29, £24, £15, £10, £5
Tocynnau / Tickets - 0845 652 1823

Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli
31 Gorffennaf / July 7.30pm

£14 (£12), £5 rhai dan 25 / under 25s
Tocynnau / Tickets- 0845 226 3510

Neuadd Dewi Sant, Caerdydd
St David's Hall, Cardiff

1 Awst / August 7.30pm
£14 (£12), £5 rhai dan 25 / under 25s Tocynnau / Tickets - 029 2087 8444

www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

www.nyaw.co.uk / www.nyawperfformio.co.uk

Rhiannon's advice for Newbie Nashers!

“It’s hot. Your suitcase is heavy. The flip-flops you thought looked really cool are sliding off your feet and you can’t lug your instrument, stand, suitcase and uniform up the stairs. You feel your instrument case slipping from your already-overloaded shoulders. It’s going to be a disaster. It will fall, break, you’ll have let the orchestra down, your family down, and yourself down.

But then a welfare team member comes over, balancing a crate of water on one hip, and takes the weight of your suitcarrier, and pulls your instrument back up onto your shoulders. Their kind smile and helpfulness is a shining beacon of hope. Buck up chuck. It’s only day one and it’s going to get sweatier and heavier!

The first day of the residency is a whirlwind. Your schedule seems crammed, everyone is excited and noisy, the campus seems huge, but if you are a newbie this time, DO NOT FEAR! The welfare staff are more patient than saints, your section leader is definitely more scared of you than you are of them, and you’re about to make some lifelong friends who will become your summer family. Once you get assigned your room, the people in the same flat as you will either be newbies just as nervous as you, or old-timers who will love a new member to take under their wing. The evening ice-breakers might seem a little odd, and maybe like they’re not even chipping the ice, but if you learn a dozen names, those names will become your friends. Don’t be offended if people ignore your surname; it will be replaced with your instrument! I can’t remember the last time I was introduced as anything other than “Rhiannon Trombone”. 

Some of the traditions may seem bizarre, (for example, anything the brass sections does…) but those traditions are part of what makes you feel a member of something special, so embrace it. The first day is busy, so sleep well; leave all of the others down the SU, sleep the first night and you’ll survive the first week with minimal scarring! Similarly, find out where your sectional rooms are and, if you have sectionals first thing in the morning, take your stand with you to your room the night before! It will save those precious few moments between being just on time for your welfare group meeting and walking in just as notices come out, which is an awkward feeling whether you are new or old.

Smile, say your instrument after your name, and be brave. You’ll be rewarded with an amazing two weeks and friends that will last much longer than the course.”

Carolyn Burton share her thoughts on the NYOW experience!

Rydym ni mor lwcus i gael y siawns i berfformio mewn llawer o leoliadau anhygoel fel rhan o'r daith Nash; o acwsteg hardd Eglwys Gadeiriol Tyddewi yn Sir Benfro (lle dwi'n cofio Carlo Rizzi yn prynu hufen iâ i bawb ar fy nghwrs Nash cyntaf!) i'r Konzerthaus trawiadol ym Merlin. Fel 'Gog' dwi bob amser yn edrych ymlaen at berfformio yn y Gogledd, gan fod yma fel arfer ydy'r lle mae rhan fwyaf o fy nheulu a ffrindiau yn dod i'n gweld. Eleni, bydd ein cyngerdd Gogledd Cymru yn Neuadd PJ, Bangor a dwi MOR gyffrous gan ei fod yn fy hoff leoliad i chwarae cyngerdd yng Ngogledd Cymru - mae'r acwsteg yn ffantastig, mae'r neuadd yn ysblennydd ac mae gen i gymaint o atgofion da yno!! Roeddwn yn 11 pan glywais y Nash am y tro cyntaf, yn PJ yn 2007 (a meddyliais 'WOW mae nhw'n anhygoel, dwi byth am gael i mewn iddo!'), ac yn awr ar ôl llwyddo cael lle yn Nash (a gan fod y Nash heb chwarae yn PJ ers i mi fod yn aelod) dwi hynod o gyffrous i gael y cyfle i chwarae yn fy ardal gartre gyda'r gerddorfa. I unrhyw un yng Ngogledd Cymru ar 28 Gorffennaf - mae hwn yn gyngerdd beidio â cholli!!!

We're so lucky to be able to perform in loads of incredible venues as part of the Nash tour; from the beautiful acoustics of St David's Cathedral in Pembrokeshire (where I also remember Carlo Rizzi buying everyone an ice-cream on my first Nash course!) to the stunning Konzerthaus in Berlin. As a 'Gog' I always look forward to performing in North Wales, as this is usually where most of my family and friends come to see us. This year our North Wales concert will be in PJ Hall, Bangor and I'm MEGA excited as it's my favourite concert venue to play in in North Wales - I love the acoustics, the hall is just spectacular and I have so many great memories there!! I was 11 when I first heard the Nash, in PJ in 2007 (and thought 'WOW they're amazing! I'm never going to be good enough to get into that!'), and now that I've managed to get into the Nash (and as the Nash haven't played in PJ since I've been a member) I'm extremely excited to have the chance to play in my home area with the orchestra. To anyone in North Wales on the 28th July - this is a concert not to miss!!!

Rhiannon Symmonds (Trombone) tells us what she is looking forward to ahead of this Summer's NYOW Residency

 “This course is going to be very special, because I’m playing bass trumpet for The Rite of Spring! It’s a brand new instrument to me, and it’s wonderful that I get to try it out in such a friendly setting. Of course, part of the reason it’s such a supportive environment is because so many of my close friends will be there; a group of around twelve of us joined in 2012, and we’ve all been inseparable ever since. Due to us all being spread across the country, from right on the Southern border to the North coast (and across Pembrokeshire too!), the course will be the first time we’ve all been together all year, so I can’t wait.

Although it’s a little strange, I’m also really looking forward to touring again. As much as a relaxing beach holiday can be well needed, I know many of us love travelling with a purpose, and the atmosphere on the coaches after a successful concert is amazing and so unique; we’re all exhausted, and yet at the same time everyone feels so pumped up that you don’t want the sleep your body is screaming that you need! For me, the rehearsals and concerts are just the tip of the iceberg. We play the best when everyone is bonded, happy and enjoying all the social aspects, so a concert is really just another social event with a few more people attending! The Nash residency is an experience as a whole, so I suppose I’m just looking forward to the whole thing!”