CGIC - 2016 - NYOW

"As a new member of the Orchestra, I joined without knowing any of the current members or tutors. From the start of the course I found everyone to be friendly and welcoming, and the tutors to be excellent. The evening activities have been great fun, ranging from the 'Nash Olympics' to the Fancy Dress Night; both with a competitive edge. The music has provided an enjoyable challenge and the standard is improving by the day. All in all the course has been a fantastic experience both socially and musically, with much more still to come."
Joseph Morgan (Trumpet)


"After 4 years doing Nash courses, it's hard to believe that I am on my final course. Sectional are now finished and Huw Jenkins has done a great job - as always. After some of the noises he was exposed to on Monday, it's always a surprise how far myself and the section develop over only a matter of days. I missed Carlo's previous course and have quickly worked out why he was such a favourite and am enjoying full rehearsals thoroughly. I'm very much looking forward to the tour, especially St Davids Cathedral, a venue I love playing at, and ending in Cardiff is always great. Overall I am sad to be leaving the Nash after this year and trying to appreciate all aspects this year."
Jack Sewter (Horn)


"NYOW is always a highlight of the year, and this course hasn't disappointed. Sectionals have been brilliant as always and the Orchestra is sounding great. As soon as Carlo arrived you could feel the energy increase, which was amazing to play with. While percussion don't have lots to play at times, the music itself definitely makes up for it and listening to the Orchestra makes me excited about the coming concerts."
Omri Tau (Percussion)


"Coming on this course as a Euphonium player from a brass band I have had very little chance to play in orchestras. It's been enlightening so far to be playing in a different sound world to what I am used to playing in and learning to play in a very different way to what euphoniums traditionally do.
The Tutors have made the course a great laugh whilst still being a great working environment in which I am constantly learning. The atmosphere is amazing in and out of rehearsals and the music has been great to listen to and participate in.
To add to this we then got to work with Carlo Rizzi. From the first beat to the last chord of 'Ein Heldenleben' playing under someone as creative and musically intelligent as Carlo creates a great buzz.
It's very rare to get Euphoniums in for orchestral works but it has proved so far to be something that has been one of my best musical experiences to date."
Gareth Trott (Tenor Tuba)

Gwen James reflects on another successful NYOW Residency

I think that it’s safe to say that everyone had a brilliant time on the NYOW tour 2015. The atmosphere was electric through the whole course as everybody took part and threw themselves into every challenge that came before them. 

The music-making this year was phenomenal. Given the opportunity to work on pieces such as The Rite of Spring under Paul Daniel’s baton was something that will stay with me for ever. The reaction from the audience at each venue was incredible, especially at St David’s Hall where almost every audience member stood on their feet applauding us. As we can see from the reviews – the hard work paid off! Apart from St David’s Hall I really enjoyed the experience of playing to a sold-out audience at Hereford Cathedral, even if it wasn’t the easiest venue to perform at! 

However, music wasn’t the only side to the course. The social aspect was brilliant – we are “virtuosic celebrators” as Paul Daniel said, laughing with us one morning following the previous night’s antics. My favourite events that had been organised by the Welfare team must have been the Tutor’s Evening, the Twmpath and the Fancy Dress Competition where everyone got involved and had a great laugh, even if the dancing was atrocious by the majority of us!! 

All in all we had a brilliant course, with memories made that will stay with us for a long, long time! A massive thank you to everyone who made it happen!

Hedydd reflects on her time with NYOW 2015 / Hedydd yn crynhoi ei hamser gyda CGIC 2015

I can’t believe NYOW 2015 has come and gone!  I have to admit, when I first heard what the repertoire was I was a bit sceptical but I have fallen in love with The Rite of Spring. I can’t believe a youth orchestra has played one of the most influential works of the 20^th century. 

Last year the repertoire was challenging due to the fact that it was very physically demanding, especially for the strings. This year the music was mentally challenging due to the constantly changing time signature and various other challenges. Nobody could afford to ‘switch off’. Everybody had to be on the ball.  My favourite ‘bits’ in the Rite were the (if I do say so myself) gorgeous viola solos!

Paul Daniel was fantastic to work with. He was engaging and had some bizarre analogies for the sounds he wanted from us – somehow those analogies worked! 

I probably should say that my favourite part of the residency is playing the viola [insert viola joke here], but the best aspect of the course is the social side.   It was great to catch up with old friends and making some new ones too. Although we don’t see each other very often, we are thick as thieves on the course. I’m always surprised that we have things to talk about after 2 weeks of each other’s company.

I would like to thank everybody on the Nash for making this course so enjoyable. I’m so sad that my time with NYOW is nearly coming to an end.

Dydw i methu credu bod CGIC 2015 wedi gorffen yn barod! Mae’n rhaid i mi gyfadde’, roeddwn i dipyn bach yn siomedig pan wnes i ddarganfod beth roeddwn ni’n chwarae ar y cwrs.  Ond pan wnes i ddod yn fwy cyfarwydd â’r Rite of Spring roeddwn i’n dwli’r darn.  Dydw i methu credu bod cerddorfa ieuenctid wedi chwarae un o’r darnau mwyaf dylanwadol yr ugeinfed ganrif.

Blwyddyn ddiwethaf roedd y gerddoriaeth yn anodd oherwydd yr oedd yn heriol yn gorffol, yn enwedig i’r llinynnau. Blwyddyn yma roedd y gerddoriaeth yn heriol yn feddyliol oherwydd y newid arwydd amser a.y.y.b.  Doedd neb yn gallu fforddio ymlacio. Roedd rhaid i bawb canolbwyntio.  Fy hoff ‘bits’ yn y Rite oedd (dydw i ddim yn rhagfarnllyd - honest!)  yr unawdau hyfryd y fiolas!

Roedd gweithio gyda Paul Daniel yn ardderchog. Roedd e’n llawn egni ac er roedd e’n defnyddio cyfatebiaethau od tu hwnt i gael y sŵn cywir oddi wrthon ni, roedden nhw’n gweithio.

Dylwn i ddweud fy hoff agwedd o’r cwrs i’w chwarae’r fiola, ond i mi mae’r cymdeithasu yn ennill. Ar ôl blwyddyn hir, roeddwn i’n joio dal fyny efo hen ffrindiau a hefyd creu ffrindiau newydd.   Er dydyn ni ddim yn gweld ein gilydd yn aml rydyn ni yn agos tu hwnt. Dwi wastad yn synnu rydyn ni efo pethau i siarad amdano ar ôl treulio pythefnos efo’n gilydd.

Hoffwn i ddiolch pawb ar y Nash am wneud y cwrs yn un bleserus. Rydw i’n drist iawn does dim llawer o amser ar ôl efo fi gyda’r Nash.