Local youth orchestra presents a unique concert

Symphony Small Talk
The orchestra is speaking. Let's listen in.
Thursday August 9 @ 3pm

Beach Ballroom

Grampian Youth Orchestra (GYO) breaks from tradition to present an original concept in classical programming.

Local youngsters from across Grampian are being led by American guest conductor and educationalist Randal Swiggum, who has been commissioned by AIYF to programme and conduct an unprecedented family concert entitled Symphony Small Talk.

Randell said: “For lots of people, orchestral music seems either sort of difficult to understand, sort of mysterious or just pretty background music, like musical wallpaper. This concert, of familiar classics and newer, less well-known works will show how listening to the orchestra is a lot like listening to a conversation,or telling a story, where the subject is the music itself”

Breaking from convention the one-hour concert is especially suitable for children ages 6-12, and will appeal both to classical music newcomers and seasoned concert-goers alike, It will be fast paced and interactive, and will be a chance to get both inside the orchestra, and inside some incredible music.

Festival Director Stephen Stenning said: “Randal Swiggum has a very different and exciting approach to creating a concert for mixed audiences. The programme is fast-moving and beautifully presented captivating young audiences, drawing in those unused to classical music and enlivening regular concert goers.”

This is the first full concert given by Grampian Youth Orchestra formed by AIYF. GYO will also be joined by local guitarist Ian Watt.

Repertoire

Dvorak: Slavonic Dance No. 8 in G minor

Lutoslawski: Little Suite

Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez, for guitar and orchestra

Featuring Ian Watt, guitar

Copland: Hoe-down

Ian Watt, guitar

Ian Watt, who has been described as “One of Scotland’s foremost young guitarists”, studies at Aberdeen City Music School (based at Dyce Academy) with Allan Neave. With the school, he has performed in Paris, Stravanger, Aberdeen Music Hall and Cowdray hall to name but a few. In 2006, Ian won a silver bursary for his high mark at grade 8 and also passed his DipABRSM with distinction in the same year.

Ian’s performances include the opening concert for the “North East Scotland Classical Guitar Society” and a concert at the prestigious “Dundee Guitar Festival 2007”. In April, Ian won the title of “Ishoka Aberdeen Young Musician of the Year 2007” and due to this, will be performing Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the Aberdeen Youth Orchestra at the Aberdeen Music Hall in March 2008. He has performed in master classes with such guitar luminaries as Pavel Steidl, Scott Tennant (Los Angeles Guitar Quartet), David Tanenbaum, Aniello Desiderio, Graham Devine and Tomasz Zawierucha.

Randal Swiggum, conductor

Randal Swiggum is conductor of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, of Chicago, Illinois which appeared at last year’s Festival. He is also Education Conductor of the award-winning Elgin Symphony Orchestra, one of the premier regional orchestras in the USA, where he creates and directs an acclaimed series of concerts for young audiences, introducing them to the joys of orchestral music.