The orchestra is formed each year at the Sasol National Youth Orchestra Course and comprises the cream of young South African musicians. Members include players from all communities, from across the country, and are chosen on merit through two auditions, an anonymous recorded audition, and a live audition played behind screen, in front of an expert auditioning panel. This distinguishes SANYOF from any other youth or professional orchestra.
In its 46th year, the South African National Youth Orchestra Foundation boasts a whole series of nationals courses and programmes for young orchestral musicians between the ages of 13 and 25.
The foundation is the leader of the youth orchestral movement in the country, and supports the training and development of South Africa's young musicians. The national courses help to prepare young people with the skills to perform in a professional musical environment, and introduce them to a necessary network of fellow musicians.
This session kicks off the year and will be held in Grahamstown from 21 June to 2 July, with the Sasol National Youth Orchestra Concert on 19 July 2010 in Johannesburg. Based on national recorded auditions in April, 32 string players will be selected for the orchestra that will be conducted by (Sweden). The National Youth Orchestra: Strings will also perform with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Richard Cock, for their concerts at the National Arts Festival, as well as three performances of their own in Grahamstown.
This programme is from 24 September to 3 October in Cape Town. This programme will focus on wind bands and percussion ensemble playing. They will also be entering the ensembles into the Stellenbosch National Ensemble Competition.
The annual Sasol National Youth Orchestra Course 2010 will take place in Durban from 5 to15 December. This is an intensive programme filled with challenges and fun for the National Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Concert Orchestra and is made possible by the loyal support of Sasol.
To make the courses open to all who wish to attend, bursaries, scholarships and payment plans are available.
Applications are now open, and can be done online at www.sanyo.org.za or via the direct link http://bit.ly/bd7bki. Applications close on 29 March, 2010. Young musicians wishing to apply must play an orchestral instrument, be of at least Grade 6 music level and be resident in southern Africa. The National Youth Orchestra courses create exciting performance opportunities for young musicians to interact with music professionals, both nationally and internationally.
