The CBSO Youth Orchestra was formed in 2004 with the specific aim of providing young musicians (aged 14-21) from across the Midlands the highest quality forum in which to experience professionally supported orchestral playing. Since its inception it has attracted over 100 young people annually to form a full Symphony Orchestra who come together twice a year for a week of intensive workshops and rehearsals culminating in the performance of two highly regarded, public concerts at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall.
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CBSO has aimed and succeeded in developing a youth orchestra like no other - dynamic, challenging, and filled with players who share CBSO's own passion for music. For young and gifted musicians, the CBSO Youth Orchestra complements the region’s existing Youth and School orchestras and through a challenging repertoire as well as firsthand support from CBSO players, professional conductors and soloists, offers the perfect stepping stone to a professional musician’s career. The Youth Orchestra has the following aims: -to provide Midlands’ young musicians the highest quality opportunity for professional musical and career development. Participants come from across the region, economic circumstances and from diverse cultures - attracting the finest young musicians. -to offer participants annual performance opportunities at high profile venues across the region; -to create a unique forum for the development of the region’s composers and conductors. Many alummni have gone on to become successful professional musicians. When the CBSO took over from the Midland Youth Orchestra in 2004, an endowment fund to ensure the Youth Orchestra’s financial stability in the first few years was also transferred. This fund is however due to run out in 2008, and we therefore seek to ensure the continuation and further development of the CBSO Youth Orchestra both financially and artistically as a priority. A donation of £300,000 will ensure the Youth Orchestra flourishes over the next ten years.