European Union Youth Orchestra
Vladimir Ashkenazy, Music Director
Orchestras
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Manager: R. Douglas Sheldon
Management Territory: North America
Simply magnificent. With the EUYO, Ashkenazy is in his element... A fresh and contagious sense of enthusiasm spread like magnetism from the stage to the stalls and the audience. —L'Eco di Bergamo, 11 April, Bergamo, Italy
A sensational concert... The hall thundered with the audience's appreciation. —Niederösterreichische Nachrichten Krems/Kamptal, Week 33, Grafenegg, Austria
About
The European Union Youth Orchestra unites Europeʼs most talented young musicians under some of the worldʼs most famous conductors, in an orchestra which transcends cultural boundaries and performs all over the world to the highest international standards. The Orchestra has won an outstanding musical reputation, and regular comparisons with the worldʼs finest orchestras.
The EUYO was founded in 1976 by the late Lionel Bryer and Joy Bryer, with a view to creating an ensemble that would represent the European ideal of a community working together to achieve peace and social understanding. Maestro Claudio . . . Abbado, the Orchestraʼs Founding Music Director and the first President, the late Sir Edward Heath, helped to establish the Orchestra as a world-class institution. Claudio Abbado was succeeded as Music Director in 1994 by Bernard Haitink, who in turn was succeeded in 2000 by the EUYOʼs present Music Director, Vladimir Ashkenazy.
In addition to the EUYOʼs Music Directors, world famous guest conductors have included Daniel Barenboim, Leonard Bernstein, Sir Colin Davis, Carlo Maria Giulini, Herbert von Karajan, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Sir Georg Solti. Notable soloists who have worked with the EUYO include Martha Argerich, Emanuel Ax, Placido Domingo, Barbara Hendricks, Nigel Kennedy, Radu Lupu, Lord Yehudi Menuhin, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Jessye Norman, Janine Jansen and Ravi Shankar.
In addition to its regular European tours, the EUYO has undertaken a number of high profile tours to destinations including China, Hong Kong, Japan, India, North and South America and Russia.
The Orchestra is made up of up to 140 players representing all 27 member countries of the European Union. The players are selected each year from over 4,000 candidates aged between 14 and 24, who take part in auditions throughout the EU. The unique experience the EUYO provides for its young musicians is not only socially stimulating and culturally enlightening, but is invaluable to their future careers. Over 90% of EUYO members go on to successful professional careers.
In 2010 the EUYO enjoyed a highly successful Spring Tour to Italy and Switzerland, under the EUYOʼs music director, Vladimir Ashkenazy, with British Pianist Grace Francis and Moldovan Violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja as main soloists. A special Gala Concert at the Shanghai Expo 2010 followed, on Europe Day (9 May 2010), for which the EUYO won an Expo award. In summer the EUYO performed with British/Ukrainian Violist Maxim Rysanov in the renowned BBC Proms series and in Austria, under Matthias Bamert. Gianandrea Noseda then conducted Europeʼs rising stars in sell-out concerts in Poland, the Netherlands (with Dutch Violinist Liza Ferschtman), Germany and Italy.
