Our Ensembles
QYO has 8 orchestras and ensembles with 550 musicians aged from 8 to 25 who perform over 50 concerts each year.
Queensland Youth Symphony
Queensland Youth Symphony is widely recognized as a world-class youth orchestra and is the leading ensemble of Queensland Youth Orchestras. QYS performs an annual concert series with a focus on works from the late 19th and 20th centuries and by contemporary Australian composers. QYS has toured and performed throughout Australia and internationally. Past members of QYS are active in Australia and abroad as soloists, teachers, composers, conductors, chamber musicians and members of major symphony orchestras.
Queensland Youth Symphony 2
QYO’s second symphony orchestra, QYO2, is conducted by Paul Dean and offers 90+ positions for advanced and intermediate musicians. QYO2 performs three concerts in the Concerts at Twilight series at The Old Museum Concert Hall and the QYO Finale Concert at QPAC. QYO2 focuses on original works from the 19th and 20th centuries and by contemporary composers. Throughout its history, QYO2 has toured and performed in collaboration with regional and metropolitan youth orchestras throughout Queensland.
Queensland Youth Symphony 3
For many members, Queensland Youth Orchestra 3 offers the first experience of playing in a full-sized symphony orchestra. Conductor David Deacon selects a variety of repertoire which includes original works for symphony orchestra and arrangements. QYO3 performs three concerts in the Concert at Twilight series at The Old Museum Concert Hall and the QYO Finale Concert at QPAC.
Junior String Ensemble 1
Junior String Ensemble 1 (JSE1) has 55 positions available to string players aged up to 15 years. Conductor Chen Yang programs a wide range of repertoire including his own arrangements of orchestral works, opera arias and ballet music. JSE1 performs in three Concerts at Twilight at The Old Museum Concert Hall and the QYO Finale Concert at QPAC. Extra concerts, workshops and a short tour may also be included in the year’s activities.
Junior String Ensemble 2
QYO’s youngest ensemble is Junior String Ensemble 2 (JSE2) which has 55 positions available for string players aged up to 12 years. JSE2 will perform string repertoire arrangements and will perform in the Concerts at Twilight Series at The Old Museum Concert Hall and the QYO Finale Concert at QPAC.
Wind Symphony
Wind Symphony (WS) is QYO’s leading wind orchestra, offering 75 positions for advanced woodwind, brass, percussion and double bass players of high-school age and above. WS performs major original works for wind orchestra, world premières and arrangements of symphonic and popular repertoire. WS will perform in three Concerts at Twilight at The Old Museum Concert Hall and the QYO Finale Concert at QPAC.
Wind Ensemble
Wind Ensemble (WE) consists of high-school (year 7-12) aged woodwind, brass and percussion players seeking musical challenges in an advanced wind orchestra. Conductor David Law programs classic works for wind orchestra such as Holst and Vaughan Williams Suites, new and contemporary works for band and Australian works by composers such as Hultgren and Grainger. WE performs in three Concerts at Twilight at the Old Museum Concert Hall, various workshops and special events, and the QYO Finale Concert at QPAC.
Big Band
The QYO Big Band has 19 positions available for jazz musicians. Conductor Bohdan Davison programs advanced instrumental and vocal big band charts. Planned performances include a Concert at Twilight at the Old Museum Concert Hall, the QYO Finale Concert at QPAC, a performance at the Brisbane Jazz Club, other performances in South East Queensland and a regional tour.s, conductors, chamber musicians and members of major symphony orchestras.