The Dunedin Youth Orchestra (DYO) is Dunedin’s premier amateur orchestra for young classical musicians. Otago Community Trust has for several years provided funding to assist with the cost of the Orchestra programme. This investment provides a pathway for talented Otago youth to develop their orchestral skills and realise their dreams.

Made up of up to 50+ talented young musicians the Dunedin Youth Orchestra provides an excellent training ground for instrumentalists to develop their orchestral skills.

Auditions are held at the start of each year to provide youth aged between 13 and 25 years with an opportunity to develop their abilities within an orchestra. Through weekly rehearsals and a weekend workshop each semester, the orchestra is then trained by professional conductors and tutors in all aspects of orchestral preparation and performance.

Otago Community Trust had hoped to produce a short grantee video showcasing the amazing talent within the Dunedin Youth Orchestra this year. However, regrettably the snap COVID lockdown in August stifled the coordination and timing of our filming opportunities. 

However, it was pleasing to see that the orchestra came out of lockdown and were still able to perform and share music from our time and place, ‘Tāonga Aotearoa’. 

The concert / open rehearsal is still able to be viewed via the video uploaded above. Soloist Boudewijn Keenan gave an excellent rendition of the second and third movements of Joseph Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major.   

Inquiries are now open for 2022. Auditions will be in early February. All young musicians who play an orchestral instrument at a level of around Grade 6 or above are encouraged to audition. Players need to be at least of secondary school age, and under 25 years old (at the start of the year).

Click to the Dunedin Youth Orchestra website to learn more.