WEYO’s Spectacular Summer Course and Concerts

This summer, to celebrate 20 years under the baton of our much-loved conductor Tim Redmond, the West of England Youth Orchestra (WEYO)* performed Stravinsky’s epic The Rite of Spring and Elgar’s rhapsodic Cello Concerto in E minor. We welcomed alumni players and current WEYO members to perform these iconic works in two spectacular concerts. There were 90 players on stage – the most we’ve ever had!

On Sunday 25^th August, WEYO met for their first rehearsal of the summer course. They began with a tutti rehearsal (meaning the whole orchestra together) for the first hour. Then, for the remainder of the day and the following morning, they split off into sectional rehearsals (meaning into their respective instrument groups with our peri tutor team). On the afternoon of day two, the orchestra came together again and remained as tutti until the end of the course,  culminating in two concerts on the Friday 30th August and  Saturday 31st August.

Of course WEYO’s much-loved conductor Tim Redmond was there too, bringing his orchestra assistant Mirella Gruesser-Smith, with whom he works at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Mirella worked alongside Tim for the duration of the week, conducting the orchestra for short periods during rehearsals in Tim’s place. Cellist Alice Neary joined the orchestra as the soloist for Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor, whilst we we invited back 19 alumni members to join current members of WEYO to perform Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, coming together to mark the 20^th anniversary of Tim Redmond’s association with our youth orchestra programme.

The concert began with Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor, with Alice Neary performing the joyous solo. In the second half, we invited WEYO alumni players back to the stage to perform Stravinsky’s epic and revolutionary ballet score The Rite of Spring. Both concerts were performed to sell-out audiences, including a few standing tickets too! At the culmination of The Rite of Spring, there was a standing ovation all round from audience members and staff. We can’t wait for January when WEYO perform together all over again – don’t forget to purchase your ticket here!

20 FOR 20

To celebrate Tim Redmond’s 20-year association with The West of England Youth Orchestra and Wiltshire Music Centre, we asked the audience if they would donate £20 to mark each of the years Tim has devoted to the progression of youth music education and at the helm of this brilliant orchestra. We’re also asking our jazz audiences the same thing, as their leader Mike Daniels has also been at the helm for over 20 years.

WEYO audiences raised nearly £1,500, for which we are really grateful. If you would like to contribute, please do using the slider below.

With £20, you can help towards:

• Costs for a guest artist or tutors
• Music hire for some of our amazing repertoire
• Help towards the running and administration of the courses
• Help getting our players to and from the centre for courses

Don’t forget to check out our Q&A with Tim Redmond, where he shares his highlights of working under the baton of the West of England Youth Orchestra.

*WEYO and Wiltshire Music Centre

The West of England Youth Orchestra (WEYO) is a regional full-sized symphony orchestra for young musicians (aged from 12 – 21 years old) and meets three times per year, offering incredible performance opportunities with other aspiring young musicians and leading professionals. Ran by Wiltshire Music Centre and part of our Creative Learning Programme, WEYO is one of our flagship Creative Learning projects and part of our core mission to support young musicians across the region, which is funded in multiple ways – through major sponsorships from Steve Vick, our Youth Patrons, and public funding. To find out more, click here to visit our page dedicated to this fantastic youth orchestra.