Alumnus Victor Julien-Laferriere is Queen Elisabeth Competition winner
Cellist and EUYO Alumnus Victor Julien-Laferriere has just been announced as the winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition 2017. The french cellist performed Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto with the Brussels Philharmonic conducted by Stéphane Denève; he will take home the €25,000 prize along ... Read more »
Double bassist Domingos wins soloist position in Gulbenkian Orchestra
05/06/2017 - Many congratulations to EUYO double bassist Domingos Ribeiro has just be awarded the position of Contrabass - Soloist A in the Gulbenkian Orchestra, in Lisbon! This is another exciting step for Domingos, who at the end of 2016 was accepted into the Academy of the Bavarian Radio Symph... Read more »
Music by memory: a new way to play?
01/06/2017 - Throughout history, orchestras have not memorised music purely for practical reasons: professional players perform so much repertoire that they simply do not have the time to learn the scores by heart. However, Stephen Johnson shines a light on why taking the music stand away might p... Read more »
EUYO Alumnus Thomas Søndergård appointed Music Director of the RSNO
27/05/2017 - Exciting news for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra this week as it is announced that Danish conductor Thomas Søndergårrd is to become Music Director of the RSNO. Currently Principal Conductor of BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBCNOW) and Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal ... Read more »
Europe Day 2017 in photos
25/05/2017 - Organised in collaboration with Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU 2017 and conducted by Brian Schembri, the EUYO performed alongside the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Malta to mark Europe Day 2017. This event featured musicians from ... Read more »
What are the cultural implications of Brexit? EUYO feature on BBC Newsnight
22/05/2017 - The European Union Baroque Orchestra is facing a fundamental change of identity. The EUBO has been based in the UK since 1985 but it now faces impending relocation to Antwerp, Belgium, where following this departure, the orchestra will be closed to British musicians as a result of Br... Read more »
Kerem is finalist in Nestlé and Salzburg Festival contest!
16/05/2017 - EUYO alumnus Kerem Hasan has just made it as one of three finalists for The Nestlé and Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award, alongside Marie Jacquot (French) and Nuno Filipe Coelho Silva (Portuguese). Recently announced as Associate Conductor of the Welsh National Opera, the youn... Read more »
EUYO alumnus is Markneukirchen competition prize winner
15/05/2017 - Talented double bassist and EUYO alumnus Maria Krykov has just won second prize in the Markneukirchen International Instrumental Competition in Eastern Germany. Maria was a member of the EUYO from 2010 until 2014 and currently studies at The Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berli... Read more »
EUYO perform in Berlin
12/05/2017 - Last month, a string quartet of EUYO players travelled to Berlin to perform as part of a commemorative event honouring the 50th anniversary of the death of Konrad Adenauer, the first post-war Chancellor of Germany from 1949 -1963. American foreign minister Henry Kissinger and the Ge... Read more »
Happy Europe Day!
09/05/2017 - The EUYO has an exciting evening ahead in Malta, performing alongside the Malta Philharmonic and conducted by Brian Schembri. A small group of players will performing the world premiere of "If" by Karl Fiorini inspired by Rudyard Kipling's poem, followed by Beethoven Symphony No. 9. ... Read more »
EUYO alumnus to perform at Europe Day in Geneva
04/05/2017 - Maltese violinist and EUYO Alumnus Nadine Galea is to perform at Journée de l'Europe, a special concert with the United Nations Orchestra conducted by Antoine Marguier. The European Union and the 2017 Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union present the event which wil... Read more »
Chief Conductor Vasily Petrenko awarded Recording of The Year
26/04/2017 - EUYO's Chief Conductor Vasily Petrenko has just been awarded Recording of The Year for the acclaimed recording of Tchaikovsky’s Symphonies Nos. 1, 2 and 6 with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, which was given at the BBC Music Magazine Awards last week. The recording also w... Read more »
More inspiring work from our players!
18/04/17 - It has been almost three years since the Bambú Ensemble was formed! Read more »
EUYO in Rome: Spirit of Europe!
11/04/17 - At the end of last month, 25th March 2017, on the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, in the beautiful setting of Villa Medici, the EUYO performed Spirit of Europe; a repertoire from across Europe to celebrate 60 years of unity, peace and cultural integration. Read more »
Petrenko's Mahler
31/03/17 - Last night, EUYO's Chief Conductor Vasily Petrenko conducted the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in Mahler’s arrangement of Hugo Wolf’s prelude to his opera, Der Corregidor, which it is thought has never been performed live before. Wolf, who suffered from mental illness for many... Read more »
Watch - EUYO meets the Professionals: Viola editions
14/03/17 - It has been a busy week for Rute Muzicale! EUYO member Theodor Andreescu, EUYO Alumnus Sorin Spasinovici and Michael Carol Mai Antal and Iulian Popovici of The National Radio Orchestra of Bucharest are the four members of the newly formed ensemble and this week they performed at Instit... Read more »
EUYO to perform at Snape Maltings
08/03/17 - A small group of EUYO players have been invited to perform as special guests as part of the Britten-Pears April 2017 Orchestra Project at Snape Maltings in Aldeburgh. Read more »
Well done Kris!
07/03/17 - We always like to hear about the exciting new pastures of our alumni, and here is another! EUYO Alumnus Kris Garfitt has just been announced as the new wechsel trombonist of the German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra! Kris is currently with the Orchestra on a temporary basis but will offi... Read more »
Wonderful short film of EUYO by Clipfabrik Austria
06/03/17 - We would like to thank Clipfabrik Austria for their wonderful short film of the EUYO taken at our Principal Venue Partner, Grafenegg. Read more »
Announcing our new office member!
01/03/17 - We are delighted to announce the new EUYO Projects and Orchestra Assistant, Alexandru Mija, who will take us his new position with us on 8th March 2017! Alexandru's biog can be found here. Read more »
All the best Andreu!
01/03/17 - We would like to wish a very big congratulations to EUYO double bassist Andreu Sanjuan Albado, who has just been awarded a double bass position in the Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid (Orquesta Titular del Teatro Real). We wish him the very best in this new venture! Read more »
A big thank you and good luck to Nora!
28/02/17 - Today is Nora's last day with EUYO! We would like to thank her for her excellent work as Projects and Orchestra Assistant and wish her all the best in her new role at Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival in Lübeck. Read more »
Ortús Chamber Music Festival enters its second year
23/02/17 - Last year, inspired EUYO Cellist Sinead O’Halloran, alongside one of Ireland’s most accomplished young violinists Mairéad Hickey, created and co-founded the Ortús Chamber Music Festival in Cork, Ireland. Next month it enters its second year, with musical happenings in Midleton, Cork Ci... Read more »
EUYO meets the Professionals: Viola editions
22/02/17 - Something exciting is happening this week. The novel group, I quattro alti, is a newly formed ensemble which began with the musical meeting of EUYO member Theodor Andreescu and former EUYO member Sorin Spasinovici, with two members (and viola leaders) of The National Radio Orchestra of... Read more »
Kerem announced as Associate Conductor of the Welsh National Opera!
13/02/17 - Young British conductor and EUYO Alumnus, Kerem Hasan, has officially been announced as Associate Conductor of The Welsh National Opera (WNO). WNO statement says: 'The Associate Conductor position is the result of a collaboration with WNO and the Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competit... Read more »
#EUYONewsletter No.1 published!
10/02/17 - #EUYONewsletter No.1 has been published! This edition features the Orchestra's 2016 highlights; an interview from current EUYO trombonist Andrew McCoy to EUYO Alumnus, professional musician and Principal Percussionist of The Royal Opera House, Nigel Charman. Oh, and a chat with the mae... Read more »
Announcing the 2017 Orchestra!
01/02/17 - We are very pleased to announce the EUYO 2017 Orchestra! We received over 2,000 applications throughout this period so we would like to thank all applicants for their time, effort and patience. We now look forward to what 2017 will bring! Read more »
Well done José!
01/02/17 EUYO Alumnus José María Ferrero de la Asunción has just been announced as the new Oboist of Orquesta Nacional de España (Spanish National Orchestra). We would like to wish our congratulations to José and the very best of luck in this next stage of his career! Read more »
EUYO Alumnus Simon Cowen to lead trombone workshop
26/01/17 - Aspiring trombonists! One of the UK's finest trombonists and former member of the EUYO, Simon Cowen, will be holding a special trombone workshop which will take place in Westhoughton, Manchester, on 18th March. Read more »
Congratulations Kerem!
24/01/17 Konzertdirektion Schmid has just announced the general management of inspiring conductor and EUYO Alumnus, Kerem Hasan. Recently awarded as finalist of the Donatella Flick Conducting Competition in November, this is the next exciting step in Kerem's career! Read more here. Read more »
We have some talented photographer musicians in our midst…
16/01/17 Whilst we weren't looking, EUYO violinist Samuel García García took a fantastic selection of photographs of the EUYO on the Summer Tour 2016. His photos capture the Orchestra rehearsing together in the beautiful spaces of Grafenegg, as part of the 2016 European Music Campus. Read more »
Announcing a new - and well known - Projects Manager
06/12/16 - We are delighted to announce that Colin Window is expanding his role with the EUYO, and will take up the position of Projects and Tours Manager with the Orchestra as from 16 January 2017. Colin has been Tour Manager with the EUYO since 2000, and we all warmly welcome him to the office... Read more »
Congratulations Cillian!
02/12/16 Cillian Ó Ceallacháin, EUYO Alumnus and talented trombonist has been announced as the new principal trombonist at Scottish Opera in Glasgow! After completing his master’s degree this summer he will start playing with the opera in April 2017. Congratulations and all the best, Cillian! Read more »
Wonderful new photographs of EUYO players post-performance in Amsterdam by Simon van Boxtel
01/12/16 We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincerest thanks to the photographer Simon Van Boxtel for his outstanding photography of the Bernard Haitink and European Union Youth Orchestra performance in Amsterdam at the end of the EUYO’s summer tour in August 2016. Simon’s pho... Read more »
EUYO returns to perform in the United Arab Emirates
26/11/16 - It gives us great pleasure to announce impending performances in the United Arab Emirates by the European Union Youth Orchestra's Brass and Percussion Ensemble, as part of an international festival under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, celebrating the 45th an... Read more »
Good Luck Kerem!
17/11/16 Kerem Hasan, EUYO Alumnus and inspirational musician, has just been announced as a finalist in the prestigious Donatella Flick Conducting Competition 2016. Well done so far Kerem, and all the best for the Final! More news of it here: http://slippedisc.com/2016/11/three-contest-lso-flick-... Read more »
EUYO live from Berlin!
08/11/16 - This year's State of Europe speech, to be given in Berlin at at an event starting 19.00 CET by EUYO Honorary Patron Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, can be viewed via live webcast at Here Read more »
All the best and thanks to Charlotte!
02/11/16 - today Charlotte Hamilton starts a new job as Development Director with the London Music Masters. We would like to take this opportunity to thank her for her unstinting work with us as Development and Communications Manager over the past three years, and to wish her the very best in her... Read more »
Noseda's Mahler 5 from Grafenegg now viewable
28/10/16 - "gripping, exhilaratingly good orchestral playing, surging with energy, laser-sharp focus and collective daring ... a technical prowess that is downright terrifying." The Guardian, August 2015 No one who heard that Mahler 5 with Gianandrea Noseda will forget it in a hurry. And now the... Read more »
Harmony without Borders
27/10/16 - want to know more about the EUYO? A nice podcast has just appeared on Deutschlandfunk about our 40th anniversary The podcast is available by clicking on the image link below: Lots of good interviews and sound clips, but you should first maybe polish up your German ... Read more »
Paris in November
23/10/16 - 16 November - Paris: a string Octet of EUYO players will perform at the prestigious annual 'Etats de la France' meeting of significant French politicians and industrialists At the 2016 gathering, those present will include Prime Minister Manuel Valls, ex President of France Valéry Gis... Read more »
Global Sounds
07/10/16 - 17th October - Brussels: The EUYO plays at the Jean Monnet Annual Conference Organised by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Education and Culture, and in the presence of EU Commissioner Tibor Navracsics, the EUYO will perform later this month at the Jean Monnet Annual... Read more »
EUYO returns to Berlin
06/10/16 - we are pleased to announce a new performance in Berlin, for 9 November 2016. Details here Read more »
EUYO @ Spira
05/10/16 - smiling faces of a couple of EUYO players who have joined inspirational Spira Mirabilis to perform Brahms on our mentoring programme. Have fun Samuel, Andrei et al! (well clearly you are doing ...) Read more »
Happy Birthday Steve Reich - from a pair of EUYOers
03/02/16 - EUYO alumno Colin Currie and Tutor Sam Walton Clapping in honour of Steve Reich's 80th birthday. We applaud! Read more »
New Pages ...
03/10/16 - We've been refreshing the website. Check out new pages on Player Awards for the last 3 years, a new recording Archive, a new Gallery, and quite a bit more at www.euyo.eu. Enjoy! Read more »
Go Luzia!
30/09/16 - Another day, another EUYO double bass prize winner Hot on the heels of Maria Krykov's recent semi final place and bass tutor Wies de Bouve's first prize, comes Luzia Vieira's triumph with first prize in the Classical Orchestral Competition. Read all about it here. Nice prizes Luiza, a... Read more »
North Sea ahoy
29/09/16 - You can't keep EUYO players down! Here are the recently formed North Sea Ensemble, plus Benjamin Christ, with a concert of Brahms, Puccini and (?) Mullov-Abbado. Read more »
Congratulations Mathieu!
28/09/16 - Congratulations to EUYO concertmaster and alumno Mathieu van Bellen, whose Busch Trio has just won the prestigious Kersjesprijs in the Netherlands. More details here on Norman Lebrecht's Blog Read more »
Petrenko Stars
Starry Beethoven
26/09/16 - EUYO Chief Conductor Vasily Petrenko is in the midst of not one but two Beethoven Symphony cycles, with concerts with his Oslo and Liverpool Orchestras. And there are lots of stars in the reviews: Read more »
2016 Agreement
21/09/16 - The EUYO is delighted to announce that following discussions with the European Commission's Directorate-General for Education and Culture, the Orchestra has signed an agreement for co funding for the year 2016. This enables us to continue our role as Cultural Ambassador for the Europea... Read more »
20/09/16 - EUYO auditions ...
20/09/16 - Thinking of applying to audition for the EUYO this year? Don't be late... APPLICATION FORMS - CLICK HERE Read more »
New Alumna Principal
19/09/16 - Meet Juliette Bausor, EUYO alumna and new Principal Flute of the London Philharmonic Orchestra Congratulations Juliette! Read more »
Haydn Sinfonia Concertante Gothenburg soloists announced
14/09/16 - We are delighted to announce the following soloists for our Gothenburg 12 November 2016 concert: Haydn Sinfonia Concertante Emily Davis, violin Klara Wincor, 'celloAntonio Juárez, oboeNikolaj Henriques, bassoon Read more »
New job!
13/09/16 - Congratulations to Lena Zeliszewska EUYO alumna Lena Zeliszewska has just landed Associate Principal first violin with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Read more »
Congratulations Wies!
13/09/16 - EUYO tutor Wies de Boevé has just won the double bass prize of the 65th annual ARD International Music Competition in Munich, Germany. Congratulations Wies! Read more »
EUYO Gothenburg debut
13/09/16 - No, not Vasily Petrenko's Gothenburg debut (he's been there before). But we are delighted to announce the EUYO's debut in the city of Gothenburg in November 2016. The programme, on 12 November 2016, will be conducted by EUYO Chief Conductor Vasily Petrenko, and features Mahler's firs... Read more »
40th Anniversary Tour
European Union Youth Orchestra’s 40th Anniversary Tour, a testament to the EU’s ideals of pan-European youth, music and excellence Read more »
The Orchestra welcomes the prospect of working with the EU on the details of a new funding agreement
We welcome the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker's 1 June 2016 announcement of proposals to enable the European Union to return to core funding the EUYO. We are very appreciative of President Juncker’s kind words about the EUYO and about its role in the past 40 years as a symbol o... Read more »
Article: #SaveEUYO from Die Welt Classical Blog
Zum 1. September: European Union Youth Orchestra soll verstummen Read more »
Monika Grütters for EUYO
The German Minister of Culture, Monika Grütters, has publicly shared her support for the European Union Youth Orchestra: Berlin (dpa) - Deutschland will sich in Brüssel für den Erhalt des von der Schließung bedrohten European Union Youth Orchestra einsetzen. Der Kulturministerrat müsse über eine... Read more »
Europe's musicians #SaveEUYO
And now... over to the musicians! FREE, OPEN TO ALL, come - experience the power of classical music. TOMORROW. This Friday, in several locations across the European Union players from the European Union Youth Orchestra, former players, players from other youth orchestras, professional orchestra... Read more »
Marshall Marcus on #SaveEUYO in the Guardian
The European Union Youth Orchestra cannot be strangled by European bureaucracy Read more »
John Gilhooly, chairman of the Royal Philharmonic Society joins the #SaveEUYO campaign
John Gilhooly RPS chairman issued the following statement in support of EUYO: The Royal Philharmonic Society has been at the heart of music in the UK for over 200 years, collaborating with composers and performers from across Europe from the outset, including commissioning Beethoven’s 9th Sympho... Read more »
Words from EUYO alumnus, Matt Bain
Why the end of EUYO is a betrayal of young people by the EU Read more »
Words from Emily Davis, concert master of the EUYO
EU concertmaster to EU commissioner: Don’t silence us Read more »
Words from Vasily Petrenko, Chief Conductor of the EUYO
“The loss of the EUYO would be a catastrophic loss to the musical community across Europe. Moreover, if the European Union stops investing in its young people and its culture it will undermine its own credibility and future” Read more »
Happy anniversary to us!
Celebrating 40 years of one of the European Union’s great cultural institutions with performances in every capital city of the EU’s 28 Member States Capital Sounds, a major new pan-European project, is an initiative marking the 40th anniversary of the founding of the European Union Youth Orchest... Read more »
Italian Under-Secretary for Cultural Heritage, Ilaria Borletti Buitoni, joins EUYO Trustees
The European Union Youth Orchestra is delighted to welcome Ilaria Borletti Buitoni as its newest Trustee. Ms Borletti Buitoni joins Co-Chairmen Ian Stoutzker CBE and Sir John Tusa, Lesley King-Lewis, Anthony Sargent and Martijn Sanders - taking up the position with immediate effect. Read more »
EUYO announces new conductors
The European Union Youth Orchestra is delighted to announce that Vasily Petrenko and Bernard Haitink take up new positions with the Orchestra. Vasily Petrenko will take up the position of Chief Conductor in September 2015 and Bernard Haitink CH, KBE, is appointed as Conductor Laureate of the EUYO... Read more »
Sir John Tusa and Ian Stoutzker, CBE become co-chairmen of EUYO
Sir John Tusa and Ian Stoutzker, CBE become Co-Chairmen of the European Union Youth Orchestra at a pivotal moment in the Orchestra’s strategic development. Read more »