Queensland Youth Symphony (QYS)
Conductor John Curro AM MBE
Queensland Youth Symphony (QYS) is QYO’s leading orchestra. Established in 1966, QYS is widely recognised as a world-class youth orchestra. QYS performs its own concert series at the prestigious QPAC Concert Hall and the Old Museum Concert Hall in Brisbane.
In 2010, QYS is performing with guest artists including the Lipman Harp Duo, pianist Suzanna Hlinka, the Brisbane Chorale, Queensland Conservatorium Chamber Choir, Choral Director Emily Cox, organist Christopher Wrench and singers Judith Henley and Anne Fulton.
The main works for 2010 includes Elgar’s 2nd Symphony, Shostakakovich Symphony No. 6 and Gustav Mahler’s 2nd Symphony Resurrection. Multiple concertos, Portsmouth Point by Walton and the world premiere of Larry Sitsky’s Symphony No. 3 complete the repertoire for this year. The planned repertoire for 2011 includes Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and Daphnis and Chloé Suite No. 2 by Ravel.
Touring
QYS regularly hosts visiting international youth orchestras including, in 2010, the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony, in 2009 the Albuquerque Youth Symphony from the US and the Ulm Youth Wind Philharmonic from Germany. In 2007 and 2008, QYO hosted orchestras from Germany (Mannheim and Stuttgart) and Macau.
QYS has performed throughout Australia and internationally during eleven overseas tours (Europe, USA, United Kingdom, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand) to much critical acclaim. In 2008, QYS toured to Germany, France, Austria and Italy giving concerts in Mannheim, Speyer, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Bouxwiller, Scherwiller, Freiburg, Stuttgart, Bamberg, Ancona, Sulmona and Rome.
In 2004, QYS toured to Germany and Italy giving concerts in Ulm, Munich, Bamberg, Würzburg, Florence, Santa Fiora and Tivoli. The next international tour is planned for 2012 to Europe and Asia.
Past members of QYS hold positions in renown orchestras throughout the world.
Conductor John Curro AM MBE
John Curro is both the founder (1966) and Director of Music of Queensland Youth Orchestras (QYO). He has conducted QYO’s premier orchestra, the Queensland Youth Symphony, for 40 years. John established QYO’s annual National Youth Concerto Competition, the nation’s premier competition for young string players, hosted by QYO every year since 1976.
John is in demand as a conductor and tutor at youth music festivals throughout the world. He has toured overseas as conductor of the Bavarian Youth Orchestra and the Australian Youth Orchestra.
John regularly conducts professional orchestras and he has held the position of Guest Conductor with the London Virtuosi, the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. He has conducted many of Australia’s professional orchestras, including the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra and the Queensland, Melbourne, Tasmanian and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras. He has conducted many opera seasons in Australia, has worked regularly with the Queensland Ballet. He has also conducted opera and ballet performances for the Hong Kong Academy of the Performing Arts.
John received the 2002 Don Banks Award and the 2001 Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award for his outstanding contribution to music in Australia. He has also received the 2001 TOAN (The Orchestras of Australia Network) Lifetime Achievement Award, the Queensland Premier’s Millenium Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2000 and the 4MBS/Perform Magazine Award for Best Music Director in 1999.
John was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 1995 for his significant contribution to music in Australia. He also holds the honour of Member of the British Empire and Honorary Doctorates from the University of Queensland and Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University. In August 2003 he was awarded the Australian Music Centre’s “Queensland Award.”
Coming up
28 August 7pm QPAC Concert Hall
Resurrection: Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2
Please find additional information here.
Tickets are available through QTIX per phone (136 246) or online.
