Melbourne Youth Orchestras: Ensemble Program Band Concerts
I had the opportunity of watching one of the four concerts presented by Melbourne Youth Orchestras (MY0) at the Iwaki Auditorium on Sunday 14th May. For those who may not know, I enclose the philosophy of the MYO: –
“Melbourne Youth Orchestras (MYO) is Victoria’s leading provider of ensemble music education for young people aged 8 to 25 years of age.
“Every Saturday during school terms, we bring over 500 young musicians together to rehearse and explore music in our nine ensembles, comprising symphony orchestras, string orchestras and symphonic bands. Students enter our program from the age of 8 and can progress through our structured ensemble program, which culminates in the esteemed Melbourne Youth Orchestra.
“Established in 1967, we continue to grow our community on a reputation for excellence, supporting young musicians to reach their potential, in creative and inspirational learning environments.
“Our program is designed to instil a lifelong love of music, because we know that only a love of music motivates lifelong learning and participation.
“No young learner should ever be excluded based on disadvantage, and our diverse learning community brings together students from all backgrounds and walks of life. At Melbourne Youth Orchestras, they are united by a love of music and a commitment to excellence.”
The concerts commenced at 11:00am with the Melbourne Youth Concert Band, followed at 1:00pm with the John Antill Youth Band, then the Melbourne Youth Wind Symphony at 3:00pm and finally the Percy Grainger Youth Orchestra at 5:30pm. It was the John Antill Youth Band that I had the pleasure of viewing. The program consisted of four items admirably conducted by Joe O’Callaghan with a welcome introduction from Brett Kelly. The ensemble consisted of approximately fifty young musicians in concert band formation, who were all generously applauded as they entered the stage.
The first presentation was the Heartland Overture by William Hines. This was a brilliant performance of a work that celebrates pride, triumph, and nobility. It opens with a noble fanfare followed by a succession of warm and expressive melodies seamlessly leading into the next heroic and inspiring statements throughout. There was a variety of contrasting moods that showed the full range of the band’s instrumentation. This was an excellent choice for the first item in the concert.
The second item was the Yorkshire Ballad from the esteemed concert band composer James Barnes. This composition called upon the expressive voice of the ensemble with a rich theme supported by flowing countermelodies throughout. As the performance progressed, the orchestral timbre grew with confidence and maturity. The result was impressive.
The third item was Abracadabra by Frank Ticheli – another esteemed composer within the concert band idiom. This work is about playfulness as seen in young children. The opening theme was dark in G minor, which quickly changed into sudden bursts of energy and changes of mood accompanied by frequent changes in major, minor, atonal and cluster harmonies. The final cadence point came suddenly as if the child’s playfulness was suddenly exhausted in a contented and peaceful manner. The John Antill Youth Band performed Abracadabra with exuberance and an accomplished delivery.
The final item was Unraveling by Andrew Boysen Junior. This piece unashamedly imitated Maurice Ravel’s Bolero with the solo drum motif persisting throughout the expanding and accelerating thematic orchestration of the principal theme – again referencing or paying homage to Ravel’s Bolero. Once again, the John Antill Youth Band performed this piece with confidence and a maturity far beyond their years of experience.
This concert, presented by the MYO at the Iwaki Auditorium, was an enduring one that will remain fondly in the memory of the accompanying parents, family members, teachers, MYO administration and the public. It was wonderful to see the future of high music standards being assured in the hands of a very well-run organisation.
Photo supplied.
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Mark Dipnall reviewed Melbourne Youth Orchestras Ensemble Program Band Concerts presented at the Iwaki Auditorium, ABC Southbank Centre, on May 14, 2023.
