Junior Orchestra Spring Course 2021

NYOS Junior Orchestra was the first of our spring courses to launch completely online this year and we were delighted to welcome our youngest members back on Saturday 3 April 2021. We were joined by inspirational conductor Natalia Luis-Bassa. Natalia conducted the Junior Orchestra back in the summer of 2019 and made such a positive impact on us, and all of the students, that we were delighted to have her passion and energy back with us once again. After meeting the conductor, tutors and pastoral staff the musicians went straight into their first sectional rehearsals.

The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland - NYOS here we go! #Borodin #MusicEducationMatters #OnlineLearning #MusicWillNeverStop @NYOScotland pic.twitter.com/X3sUgFAjsA

— Natalia Luis-Bassa (@NataliaLuisB) April 3, 2021

@NYOScotland Junior Orchestra spring course launched yesterday (online)! It's a delight to see so many of Scotland’s talented young musicians learn and play together again under the guidance of our world class tutors, and inspirational conductor @NataliaLuisB #nyos21 #nyosjuniors pic.twitter.com/1PpGF2PP5n

— NYOS (@NYOScotland) April 4, 2021

Behind the scenes from @NYOScotland Junior Orchestra spring course (online)! Today our young musicians are working closely with our course tutors in ensembles before the final day of full rehearsals tomorrow. @NataliaLuisB #brass #percussion #nyos21 #nyosjuniors pic.twitter.com/0jSS7dJTL2

— NYOS (@NYOScotland) April 5, 2021

The course ran for four full days and each day was packed with a variety of sessions including health and wellbeing, practical workshops, masterclasses and culminated with a small, informal Zoom concert for family and friends.

Under normal conditions NYOS Junior Orchestra members would have prepared for and performed in their end of course concert, which forms an important part of the overall NYOS experience. Students learn how to present themselves on stage while performing, a key skill for any young, aspiring musician. It is obviously disappointing therefore, that we are unable to perform at one of our favourite venues in front of a live audience this year. However, Junior Orchestra members will star in their very own short music video. We have employed a small team of audio engineers and videographers to help students record audio and video of themselves performing remotely. These will then be edited together to produce the short film. It may not be a replacement for live performance, but the presentation and technical skills our students are learning for this type of performance outcome are just as important, especially as the performing arts landscape evolves and changes to meet new demands.

May we present NYOS JNR Orchestra Leader Ryan Chan & Co-Leader Malcolm Wong. In a normal year Malcolm & Ryan would proudly lead the Orchestra out to perform in front of a live audience. This year's 'performance' might be little different, so watch this space..#nyos21 #nyosjuniors pic.twitter.com/yvZR4VTqUA

— NYOS (@NYOScotland) April 5, 2021

We would like to thank everyone involved with the Junior Orchestra spring course. Our Ensembles Team delivered a wonderfully varied and meaningful course under difficult circumstances. Special thanks also to conductor Natalia Luis-Bassa, all our fantastic tutors, pastoral staff and special guests, but most of all to our Junior Orchestra members (and those who supported them at home), without whom there would be no course and no music. Thank you one and all! Watch this space for the music video and we’ll see you all again in the summer! 

It was a pleasure and a privilege to be involved with these talented musicians. Strangely, with my post cycle accident freshly broken pelvis, easier online than trekking to lovely Strathallan! But of course I would have much preferred a live course! Well done to all ❤️🎵🌈

— rebecca Roberts (@rebeccabassoon) April 4, 2021

Course feedback:

"Thank you! to you and all the team for the last 4 days of junior NYOS. 
At nine years old there were daily butterflies for XXX each time we logged in to zoom, but you and the team did a great job of settling the nerves and it’s clear he has benefited from the coaching and extra sessions that you put on. Thanks again to everyone and I can’t wait to hear the final recording!!" – Parent 

"Just wanted to say a very big thank you for an excellent NYOS online. XXX has enjoyed the course very much and the finale was wonderful! Please pass on our thanks to all the Tutors and course organisers. Big thanks to Natalia for her time, inspiration and final words of encouragement." – Parent