Penzance Youth String Orchestra

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Please click on 'Concerts programme' link above for details of our upcoming concerts.

PYSO news - Summer 2018

A Year and a Day

PYSO players have just started their summer season of concerts which will include Vivaldi’s Four Seasons performed by our wonderful international prize-winner solo violinist Bill Lut. Starting with our annual Golowan Festival concert on Friday 22nd June, this year PYSO’s concerts include return visits to Newlyn’s Trinity Centre (3pm July 15th) and Lafrowda Festival in St. Just (7.30pm Monday 16th July) and the group will be making their 9th consecutive trip to the Music For Youth National Festival in Birmingham (Thursday 5th July) – what a record! We also make our first visit to the wonderful church of Lanteglos near Camelford (7pm Friday 20th July) and St. Bartholomew’s Church, Porthleven (7.30pm Saturday 21st July). PYSO are also presenting a Summer Primary Prom at St. John’s Hall, Penzance on Tuesday 17th July – for local primary and lower end Secondary schools.

Vivaldi’s music was inspired by a whole year of seasons, so by contrast the group have been exploring music connected in some way to different times of the day. The programme includes Sally Beamish’s The Day Dawn, Elgar Chanson De Matin, Ravel Habanera, and Bartok An Evening in the Village and the central slow movement from his Divertimento for Strings, an eerie piece of ‘night music’.

Do come and join us and hear this interesting collection of inspiring music performed with PYSO’s trademark youthful energy, and Bill Lut’s interpretation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is definitely a not-to–be-missed experience!

PYSO play CPE Bach A major Cello Concerto with soloist Richard Lester...
part of a programme featuring the music of JS Bach
and his sons WF and CPE Bach
Concerts Penzance, St. John's Hall, Penzance

On the first day of the Duke and Duchess's three day tour of the South West,
the refurbishment of St John's Hall in Penzance was marked by the unveiling of a plaque.
PYSO were very proud to be invited to entertain the Royal party.

More photos from this and our previous concerts and activities on our 'Photo Blog' page, and on our 'Video/Audio' page.

Penzance Youth String Orchestra was founded in 2006, and its members are all resident in Penwith – the tip of the South West peninsula in Britain. PYSO players, who are aged between 10 and 19 years old, have included representatives from many local schools and colleges as well as the home education community. Its existence is possible because of the dedication of several local teachers over many years, a great deal of dedication from the 22 young players who meet at least once a week to rehearse under the guidance of Tim Boulton, and the support of Music Cornwall. The orchestra have won an enthusiastic and loyal following in Cornwall and beyond.

PYSO rehearse and perform without a conductor, directed by Tim Boulton from the viola position. It is part of the ethos of the group that the players should develop a wide range of skills, including those that are transferable to many areas of life, such as the ability to listen well, to be adaptable and flexible, to take responsibility and lead, develop excellent organisational skills, and strive to achieve personal best. Many people have commented on the great discipline of PYSO performances, and this is achieved within an atmosphere of individual expression and joy. They perform a wide range of music and styles from the last 300 years until the present day.

Over the last few years PYSO have performed at the Royal Albert Hall and Symphony Hall Birmingham at the Music For Youth National Festival and Schools Proms, in the lunchtime series of St. Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square, London, at festivals in Cornwall including Golowan, Lafrowda, Lizard, and Polperro, and many other performances including BBC Music Nation Day when PYSO performed alongside the South West Camerata and members of the BBC Concert Orchestra, and several concerts of Music for Christmas. In March 2016 PYSO were awarded the Youth Orchestra trophy at the Cornwall Music Festival for the ninth consecutive year, also winning awards for the highest mark for an ensemble and for the most inspiring director/conductor. The orchestra also participated in the Music Cornwall celebratory event Marvellous Music in Cornwall at Hall For Cornwall and for the Queen’s Jubilee and Bandstand Marathon at Morrab Gardens, Penzance. In September 2013 PYSO were the proud recipients of a Cornish Gorsedh Music Award.

	PYSO have taken part in the Music For Youth festival series in each of the last 3 years and have received awards on each occasion for their performances at the National Festival in Birmingham. "It was such a pleasure to hear this group performing at the National Festival of Music For Youth. It's rare to hear performers of this age perform with such panache, passion and precision! That they employ the talents of other local musicians and composers for their material is fantastic and unique - the talented individuals in this ensemble all seem to have the chance to hear their own voice within the group and the audience can both hear and see the joyful results! Well done." Sarah Freestone, MFY Mentor at the National Festival
	2010 – The Classic FM String & Chamber Orchestras Award in recognition of ‘An innovative pushing of musical boundaries and an excellent performance in its own right’
	2011 – The Federation of Music Services Orchestras Award given in recognition of an ‘Amazing original composition by Ben Comeau for piano and orchestra, not only a stunning composition but played with such aplomb by both soloist and orchestra.’
	2012 – ABRSM String & Chamber Orchestras Award 'For sheer conviction, pizzazz and stunning playing all round’ 2013 - ABRSM String & Chamber Orchestras Certificate of Achievement for Performance Practise

Penzance Youth String Orchestra is funded and supported by Cornwall Music Education Hub			We are also grateful for support from Cornwall Community Foundation
Some of our members are students of South West Music School			Some of our members are supported by Awards for Young Musicians
PYSO are pleased to be associated with Humphry Davy School Penzance and thank the head and staff for their ongoing support