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Orchestra gets jazzed up
Rebecca Woolley
20 February 2008
THE sky is the limit for the Northern Beaches Youth Orchestra which has snagged world-famous jazz musician James Morrison as its patron.
Auditions are due to take place next month with two panels of judges headed by highly acclaimed conductors Stephen Williams and Martin Hardy who are also on board.
Louise Brown, one of the brains behind the venture backed by Warringah, Manly and Pittwater councils, said applications were flooding in from talented musicians across the peninsula. About 500 eager hopefuls are expected to audition for a coveted spot on the homegrown orchestra, which will feature musicians aged between 14 and 24-years-old.
Chief conductor Mr Williams, who has fronted most of the Symphony Australia Orchestras, said: "The project is fantastic. I am very passionate and excited about the whole concept.
"The northern beaches has not had an established symphonic orchestra for a very long time."
As both conductors are brass players they are passionate about jazz but want to embrace all types of symphonic music and see more string musicians applying for a place.
"We are both fairly eclectic in our musical taste," Mr Williams said. "We are very keen and passionate about playing in jazz bands and that style of music.
"But we are very keen to see all students perform all sorts of repertoire from all sorts of genres."
Mr Hardy said the pair had both grown up on the northern beaches, worked together previously and had a similar sense of humour.
"We are both educators so understand the levels of musicianship that are required and can be achieved," he said.
Applications close on March 1 and auditions will be held at Saint Augustine's College, Brookvale over the weekends of March 7-8 and 15-16.
To apply email: nbyorchestra @optusnet.com.au
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