Palmusic UK announces the launch of the Palestine Youth Orchestra UK Tour at Perth Concert Hall on Monday 25th July.
This summer the Palestine Youth Orchestra (PYO) leaves the troubled olive groves of Palestine to tour Britain for the first time. They start their tour at the Perth Concert Hall. Following a critically acclaimed performance by a smaller ensemble of the PYO (the Palestine Strings) with Nigel Kennedy at the BBC Proms in 2013, the PYO now embarks on its first ever UK Tour under the baton of Sian Edwards (Head of Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music), performing at world-class venues across the UK culminating with a concert at the Royal Festival Hall, London. Set against a backdrop of international political turmoil, these young musicians are poised to bring a message of inspiration and humanity to UK audiences.
Equally at home with Western and Arabic music, the PYO has a unique position amongst youth orchestras internationally. It was established by the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in 2004 with the vision of bringing together talented students from all over Palestine and the Palestinian Diaspora. Despite the daily obstacles they face, their drive and passion for music has entranced audiences in France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Greece, Oman, Syria, Bahrain and Lebanon.
Unable to rehearse together as an orchestra at home, the PYO will be meeting and rehearse at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland between the 18-24 July 2016. They will be joined by the Palestinian singer Nai Barghouti, a rising star of Arabic music, and several students from leading British Conservatoires.
Graham Fitkin’s Metal – energy packed, pop inspired and suiting the PYO’s youthful musical vigour.
Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, the majestic orchestration by Ravel.
The orchestra arrives in London at the end of a weekend of events at the Southbank coming under the umbrella of ‘what the world needs now’, which will explore various themes of art linked to social change. Their final UK concert will be at the Royal Festival Hall, London on 1 August as part of the Southbank’s annual Festival of Love.
The PYO will be coached by professional musicians from Scottish orchestras and the Oslo Philharmonic (the PYO official coaching partner). The tour is organised in partnership with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Glasgow City Council, Leeds City Council, and Birmingham City Council.
The PYO tour can be followed via their PYO Facebook page and their PYO Twitter Account and on their website www.palmusic.org.uk.