Download 2014 - Aberdeen International Youth Festival

AIYF
25 JULY – 2 AUG 2014
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
DANCE
THEATRE
WORLD MUSIC
CHOIRS
ORCHESTRAS
OPERA
JAZZ
Principal Supporters
www.aiyf.org
CONTENTS
Welcome and sponsors.................................. 1
B on a T competition and winners.................. 25
Box office and venue map............................... 2
Group Descriptions................................. 26-41
The Spotlight Sessions..................................... 3
Summer Courses..................................... 42-43
Main Festival Programme.......................... 3-13
We need your support.................................. 44
Communities Tour, Spotlight Sessions
and Freshly Squeezed.................................. 14
Acknowledgements...................................... 45
Get Scotland Dancing................................... 15
At a glance calendar............................... 16-17
Spotlight Sessions and Freshly
Squeezed artists biographies.................... 18-19
Extended Festival Programme................... 20-24
WELCOME
I’d like to start by extending a very warm welcome to
everyone taking part in this year’s festival, making it a
wonderfully creative and culturally diverse event. As
always we have many talented young people from the
local, national and international arts disciplines and
we are convinced that once again in 2014 we will be
showcasing talent of the highest quality.
You may also notice that how we describe the festival
has changed this year and we have stepped out in
confidence as ‘Scotland’s platform for youth arts’.
This is in recognition of our position on the national youth
arts stage as we continue to build sustainable links with
national companies and organisations profiling the work
of Scotland’s emerging young talent.
2014 will be a year of firsts for us at AIYF, which is no
mean feat when we consider that the festival is now
42 years old. We held our first ever fundraising dinner
in March, and we’ll be taking part in the cultural element
of the Commonwealth Games programme by producing
one of the North-east’s ‘Get Scotland Dancing’ projects.
We are also continuing with our ‘Spotlight Session &
Freshly Squeezeds’ programming, where we profile
newly professional young acts across the classical,
traditional, jazz and contemporary genres.
The focus on the international element of our work has not
changed, and as you’ll see from this year’s programme, we
have young people participating in the festival from across
the globe: many young people from China and the USA,
from Europe to Mexico, will experience the excitement and
vibrancy of taking part in the 2014 festival.
The AIYF team has also been driving a number of
initiatives across the city including the ABpositive
cultural conversations events and the newly formed
Aberdeen Festivals Collective, both of which are aimed
at positioning Aberdeen more strongly at a local and
national level in terms of its cultural offering.
Finally, I’d like to wish everyone a fabulous festival and
thank our many supporters, sponsors, friends and partner
organisations. Their continuous/ongoing help ensures that
we can present a wonderful programme of entertainment
for our audiences and the young people involved to enjoy.
Stewart Aitken
CEO and Artistic Director, AIYF
SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS
Platinum Sponsor
Bronze Sponsors
Supporters and Funders
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Principal Supporters
Programme designed and created by APS Group Scotland
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
.1
BOX OFFICE INFORMATION
Tickets for shows in Aberdeen and a selection of shows
outside the city are available through Aberdeen Box Office.
Online www.boxofficeaberdeen.com
Telephone01224 641122 (Monday – Saturday, 9.30 – 6pm)
In person HMT or Music Hall Box Office
(Monday – Saturday, 9.30 – 6pm)
SPECIAL OFFERS
We are pleased to offer multiple ticket discounts for the majority
of performances taking place during the 2014 festival.
Family Tickets & Festival Pass
Family tickets are available on any of the £6 shows.
BOOKING FEES
Booking Fees are applicable when buying tickets for
most of the AIYF festival shows. The normal charge is
10% booking fee per ticket added to the price of the
ticket at the point of purchase.
This fee is applied to cover box office administrative
costs. Please check at the point of purchase for
booking fee costs.
Family Pass:
£20 for a family of four
Festival Pass:
4 shows – £20 (saving £4)
8 shows – £38 (saving £10)
10 shows – £45 (saving £15)
20 shows – £75 (saving £45)
(must include at least one child)
Group Discounts
Group of 8 people get £2 off standard rate ticket; Groups of
15 or more get 1 free ticket for every 15 tickets purchased.
TICKET DISCOUNTS
For events in Aberdeen, we are pleased to offer discounts
on full price tickets to under 16s, full-time students,
registered unemployed, over 60s and Friends of the
Festival. For individual show discounts available please
see daily listings.
Accord Card
AIYF are members of the Accord Card scheme
for Aberdeen residents. For full information go to
www.accordaberdeen.co.uk
Extended Festival Tickets
Tickets for these shows are available directly from the
venue or local outlets. Please contact the venue or
consult the festival website for more information.
ABERDEEN CITY VENUES
1
6
2
7
4
Bon-Accord
Shopping
Centre
St. Nicholas
Shopping
Centre
1
Aberdeen
Town House
3
3
4
Union
Terrace
Gardens
5
Trinity
Shopping
Centre
6
Aberdeen
Station
UNION SQUARE
SHOPPING CENTRE
& BUS STATION
7
H
is Majesty’s Theatre (HMT)
Rosemount Viaduct, AB25 1GL
M
usic Hall
Union Street, AB10 1QS
Beach Ballroom
Beach Promenade, AB24 5NR
A
berdeen Arts Centre & Theatre – (ACT Aberdeen)
33 King Street, AB24 5AA
T he Sanctuary at Queen’s Cross Church
Albyn Place, AB10 1YN
T he Blue Lamp
121 Gallowgate, AB25 1BU
T he Lemon Tree
5 West North Street, AB24 5AT
All information in this guide is correct at the time of printing. To confirm details please contact the festival office or visit www.aiyf.org
The Festival reserves the right to make changes to the programme.
2.
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
THURSDAY
JULY 24
FESTIVAL
PROGRAMME
PERFORMANCES
SUNDAY, JULY 20
SPECIAL PRE-FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE: THE FOUR SEASONS DANCE EVENT
Get Scotland Dancing
VENUE: His Majesty's Theatre TIME: 5.00pm & 7.30pm COST: FREE but tickets must be booked in
advance via Aberdeen Box Office
Four Seasons is a project created with 100 young people from across the North-east of Scotland working with
internationally-renowned choreographers Royston Maldoom OBE and Tamara McLorg. Supported by community
dance artists, the show is a new dance performance that marries the north-east’s reputation for ‘four seasons in
one day’ with Vivaldi’s famous score The Four Seasons. This show is a wonderful prelude to the main Aberdeen
International Youth Festival programme.
The project is commissioned by Get Scotland Dancing as part of Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme, and is
produced by Aberdeen International Youth Festival with support from Citymoves Dance Agency.
THURSDAY, JULY 24
Our Scotland
MITCHELL SCHOOL OF DRAMA (MSD)
VENUE: Lemon Tree TIME: 7.30pm COST: £6
‘Wir comin’ by the boatload – Wir doon the end o
your road – Wir no awa tae bide awa.’
MSD (Scotland) take a wry and youth focused look
on this Homecoming year and all things Scottish, in
the style of the nation’s favourite form of entertainment
– the television. Sheep, castles, Burns, tatties, tartan,
the referendum and what comin’ hame means to
people. Directed by Rhona Mitchell and devised by the
company with music and lyrics by Ashley Forbes.
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
.3
FRIDAY, JULY 25
The Robbie Burns Performers
Garthdee International Concert
THE STAR O’ ROBBIE BURNS
BEIJING 57 HIGH SCHOOL JINFAN MARCHING
BAND (CHINA), BALLET PRAGUE JUNIOR (CZECH
REPUBLIC), SIMUNYE SIMUNYE ARTS (ZIMBABWE)
AND EGYPTIAN FOLK DANCE GROUP (EGYPT)
VENUE: Elphinstone Hall, University of Aberdeen
TIME: 2.30pm & 8.00pm COST: £6
Top young performers from The Robert Burns World
Federation Festival explore the work and fragile life of
Caledonia’s Bard from his early years through to his
enduring legacies through songs, poetry and music.
The cast of extraordinary musicians and actors from
across Scotland will inspire and captivate audiences
with their phenomenal talent.
VENUE: Inchgarth Community Centre, Garthdee
TIME: 7:30pm COST: £6
Groups are coming from all corners of the world to perform
at Garthdee this summer with an exciting dance and
music show. Bringing a real international flavour, expect
contemporary dance from Prague Ballet Junior and much
fanfare and music from the large Chinese marching band.
Our Scotland
MITCHELL SCHOOL OF DRAMA (MSD)
VENUE: Lemon Tree TIME: 7.30pm COST: £6
‘Wir comin’ by the boatload – Wir doon the end o
your road – Wir no awa tae bide awa.’
MSD (Scotland) take a wry and youth focused look
on this Homecoming year and all things Scottish, in
the style of the nation’s favourite form of entertainment
– the television. Sheep, castles, Burns, tatties, tartan,
the referendum and what comin’ hame means to
people. Directed by Rhona Mitchell and devised by the
company with music and lyrics by Ashley Forbes.
SATURDAY, JULY 26
AIYF International Street
Parade and Party
ALL GROUPS
ROUTE: Parade finishes outside John Lewis
TIME: 11.00am COST: Free
A new international and local street party and parade
where all the local, national and international groups join
together to bring a celebratory vibrancy to the city centre.
Expect marching bands and dance groups as well as
classical ensembles, theatre groups and local musicians
and performers.
Sponsored by Aberdeen BID
4.
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
Festival in the City
VENUE: City Centre TIME: 1.00pm – 4.00pm
COST: Free
Aberdeen comes alive with a jam-packed schedule of
performances including drummers, traditional music, song,
cultural dance and street theatre. A number of city centre
stages will showcase the best of the Festival’s international
talent, alongside young Scottish performers, in the streets
and shopping centres of Aberdeen. The full range of
entertainment on offer is suitable for all ages and tastes,
so come along and experience the festival buzz for free!
Sponsored by BP
SATURDAY, JULY 26
UP CLOSE AND MUSICAL
North-East Harp Ensemble
VENUE: TBC TIME: 4.00pm COST: £6
MITCHELL SCHOOL OF DRAMA (MSD)
VENUE: Lemon Tree TIME: 7.30pm COST: £6
‘Wir comin’ by the boatload – Wir doon the end o
your road – Wir no awa tae bide awa.’
MSD (Scotland) take a wry and youth focused look
on this Homecoming year and all things Scottish, in
the style of the nation’s favourite form of entertainment
– the television. Sheep, castles, Burns, tatties, tartan,
the referendum and what comin’ hame means to
people. Directed by Rhona Mitchell and devised by the
company with music and lyrics by Ashley Forbes.
This highly talented and award winning duo are recipients
of the much sought after Oxford Lieder Young Artist
Awards given to only a few outstanding young duos each
year to support a concert series. They have previously
built their repertoire around pieces by Benjamin Britten,
Franz Schubert, Francis Poulenc and Peter Warlock.
AIYF Spotlight Session &
Freshly Squeezed
SUNDAY
JULY 27
Our Scotland
VENUE: Queen’s Cross Church Sanctuary
TIME: 7.30pm COST: £11 & £7 (c)
SATURDAY
JULY 26
and dedicated harp teacher. She is music advisor to the
North East branch of the Clarsach Society, and teaches
worldwide using video conferencing software, attempting
to make learning the harp accessible to all.
KANGMIN JUSTIN KIM (COUNTER TENOR)
AND SACHIKA TANIYAMA (PIANO)
FRIDAY
JULY 25
A group of young harpists from across the North-east will
perform a classical repertoire in this City Centre venue.
The group was set up by Christine Edwards in 2013.
Christine Edwards is an experienced performer, composer
Oxford Lieder Young Artists
CASINO CIRCUS WITH BE LIKE PABLO AND
DANIEL MUTCH
VENUE: Lemon Tree (Lounge) DOORS: 9.00pm
COST: £11
The Lemon Tree’s Freshly Squeezed programme
combines with AIYF’s Spotlight Session to showcase
the best new music in Aberdeen. Casino Circus, a
four piece indie/punk band from Aberdeen who are
gaining a reputation for putting on energetic and lively
performances. Supported by other emerging local talent.
SUNDAY, JULY 27
Welcome Ceremony
VENUE: Music Hall TIME: 3.00pm COST: £1
(Free to Friends of AIYF and APA)
AIYF’s grand opening ceremony extends a huge
welcome to our talented performers from the UK
and the rest of the world. A truly marvellous spectacle
not to be missed. Countries this year include Japan,
USA, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Czech Republic, China
and Azerbaijan.
GRAMPIAN YOUTH ORCHESTRA (GYO)
(SCOTLAND) AND AMERSFOORT YOUTH
ORCHESTRA (NETHERLANDS)
VENUE: Music Hall TIME: 7.30pm
COST: £16.50 & £11(c)
Making a very welcome return to AIYF is the Northeast’s regional orchestra GYO with conductor Jessica
Cottis and piano soloist Murray McLachlan. In true AIYF
style, GYO will be collaborating with Amersfoort Youth
Orchestra under its conductor Rolf Buijs, making its
first appearance at the festival. Repertoire will include:
Piano Concerto Beethoven’s concerto 5 Emperor and
Symphony in D minor by Franck.
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
.5
SUNDAY, JULY 27
Opera Masterclass
VENUE: Elphinstone Hall, University of Aberdeen
TIME: 7.30pm COST: £3
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland students from the AIYF
Opera project are taken through their paces with one
of the UK’s leading opera singers or tutors. In previous
years they have worked with the wonderful talents of
Lisa Milne and the workshop has become a must-see
event in the AIYF programme.
MONDAY, JULY 28
UP CLOSE AND MUSICAL
Madison Youth Choirs (USA)
Supported by Quarry HILL Primary School
Choir, Aberdeen
VENUE:St Machar Cathedral TIME: 11.00am
COST: £6
With origins stretching back over five decades, Madison
Youth Choirs is the collection of 11 different youth choirs
from Madison, Wisconsin. Quarryhill Primary
School Choir from Aberdeen will perform a prelude
ahead of the main performance.
International Performance
Evening
BEIJING JINGSHAN SCHOOL (CHINA),
YOUNG RUSSIAN SOLOISTS (RUSSIA) &
OTHER FESTIVAL PERFORMERS
VENUE: ACT Aberdeen TIME: 7.30pm COST: £6
One of the most popular films in the world and
recognised across the globe, this young Chinese
performing arts company brings its lively stripped down
version of the Wizard of Oz. Expect bright costumes
and wonderful music and scenery. Supported by two
talented Russian soloists from the AIYF linked performing
arts school in Russia, School 46.
6.
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
UP CLOSE AND MUSICAL
Royal Conservatoire of
Scotland Opera Song Studio
VENUE:Elphinstone Hall, University of Aberdeen
TIME:1.00pm COST: £6
An hour of song chosen from a range of operas, that
will include the well known and the more unusual
repertoire, performed by the talented young vocalists
from this year’s opera residency under the direction of
the RCoS head of Opera, Tim Dean.
Classical Concert
JOINT CONCERT FEATURING THE
SCOKENDIA ENSEMBLE (SCOTLAND, KENYA,
INDIA) & LAURA AYOUB (SCOTLAND)
VENUE: Queen's Cross Church Sanctuary
TIME: 7.30pm COST: £10 & £6 (c)
In recognition of this year's Commonwealth Games, the
Scokendia Ensemble, led by Scottish tenor Jamie Munn,
brings together talented musicians from Scotland, Kenya
and India to play new pieces of music. Laura Ayoub is a
talented young violinist from Scotland.
MONDAY, JULY 28
Theatre Double-Bill
WITH BURAYDAH THEATRE GROUP (KINGDOM OF
SAUDI ARABIA) & LA CAMOTERA TEATRO (MEXICO)
VENUE: Lemon Tree (Studio) TIME: 7.30pm
COST: £6
Buraydah Theatre Group present, "A play of a window".
A drama about two brothers living in one house in one room
and each of them has different ideas, beliefs and aspirations.
Who should stay and who should leave? La Camotera
Teatro, present “Station”, a love story is performed without
words sees a young woman and a middle aged man,
both homeless meet by chance and share this moment.
TUESDAY, JULY 29
VENUE: Craigiebuckler Church TIME: 11.00am
COST: £6
UP CLOSE AND MUSICAL
Aberdeen and North-east
of Scotland Music Festival
selected performers
VENUE: Cults Parish Church TIME: 2.00pm
COST: £6
Showcasing some of the region’s finest talent,
this performance will bring together a number of
participants, runners-up and winners from this year’s
Aberdeen and North-east of Scotland Music Festival
to perform at one of AIYF’s most popular and well
supported local church venues.
VENUE: TBC TIME: 1.00pm COST: £6
This wonderful school music theatre group takes audiences
of all ages to the wonderful world of the Wizard of Oz in
an Up Close and Musical setting. Expect music, songs and
colourful costumes in this intimate version of the film classic.
TUESDAY
JULY 29
Two talented young soloists, both singers, visit AIYF from
School 46 in St Petersburg, one of our international
partner schools in Russia. Elizabeth Gorchakova and
Karpenko Mila have won many local awards for their
performances and will present a mixed repertoire of
traditional and music theatre songs.
Beijing Jingshan School
MONDAY
JULY 28
Elizabeth Gorchakova and
Karpenko Mila (Russia)
UP CLOSE AND MUSICAL
SUNDAY
JULY 27
UP CLOSE AND MUSICAL
FESTIVAL
RADIO
Every day on shmuFM 99.8 FM
MADISON YOUTH CHOIRS & NATIONAL
YOUTH CHOIR OF SCOTLAND (NYCOS)
BOYS' CHOIR
VENUE: Music Hall TIME: 7.30pm COST: £15 &
£10 (cabaret seating – downstairs only until full)
This choral evening brings together two Boys' choirs
who will share the programme for the evening before
coming together with over 120 young male singers in
a collaborative finale to the concert. NYCOS boys'
choir will perform under guidance of conductor Frikki
Walker. Madison Youth Choirs from Chicago, under
the direction of Michael Ross, will be participating in
AlYF for the first time.
Sponsored by Craig Group.
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
.7
TUESDAY, JULY 29
BALLET PRAGUE JUNIOR (CZECH REPUBLIC),
ZACCHO YOUTH DANCE COMPANY (USA),
THE NORTHERN EXCHANGE (SCOTTISH/
NORWEGIAN/FINNISH) AND THE BEIJING
57 HIGH SCHOOL JINFAN MARCHING BAND
(CHINA)
VENUE: International School TIME: 7.30pm
COST: £6
One of the most anticipated shows in recent years,
within the lovely setting of the International School,
this performance will take audiences around the globe,
and profile some of the world’s best talent in ballet &
contemporary dance and traditional & fanfare music.
FUSION YOUTH DANCE COMPANY
(SCOTLAND), THEATRE SCHOOL OF
MODERN DANCE “POTOKI” (UKRAINE),
GUF RISHON (ISRAEL)
VENUE: Lemon Tree TIME: 7.30pm COST: £6
Fusion Youth Dance Company, Theatre School of
Modern Dance “Potoki” and Guf Rishon are three
stunning contemporary dance companies returning to
AIYF following previous highly successful and popular
shows. Exciting movement with outstanding modern
choreography will ensure that these performances are
not to be missed.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
UP CLOSE AND MUSICAL
Silverbirch Duo (Scotland)
VENUE: Queen’s Cross Church Sanctuary
TIME: 1.00pm COST: £6
The Silverbirch Duo bring their beautiful blend of guitar
and flute to AIYF courtesy of the AIYF partnership with
Live Music Now. The duo are beginning to develop their
profile as a partnership alongside their successful award
winning solo work. This promises to be another quality
concert as part of the Up Close and Musical series.
Supported by: AIYF Festival Friends
8.
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
UP CLOSE AND MUSICAL
NESMS Performers Sanjay
Vijayan, Ian Leahy and
Kirsten Lobban
VENUE: Ferryhill Church TIME: 3.00pm COST: £6
This showcase of local talent from the North East of
Scotland Music School has become one of the highlight
concerts during the annual Up Close and Musical series.
The beautiful setting of the Ferryhill Church is perfect for
the music of Sanjay Vijayan (Oboe), Ian Leahy(Cello),
Kirsten Lobban (Voice) all accompanied by Drew Tulloch.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
SAIGA BALLET (JAPAN) AND BALLET PRAGUE
JUNIOR (CZECH REPUBLIC)
BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN MUSIC SERVICES
BIG BAND
VENUE: ACT Aberdeen TIME: 7:30pm TICKETS: £6
VENUE: Beach Ballroom TIME: 7.30pm
COST: £11 & £7 (C)
Saiga Ballet (Japan) and Ballet Prague Junior (Prague)
are two of the most talented contemporary ballet
companies that have a longstanding relationship with
AIYF and have a reputation locally of presenting stunning
work during the festival each year they visit. Both
companies will be profiling some of their newest work,
as well as the next generation of top ballet talent. These
companies really represent the very best young dance
talent AIYF has to offer and this show is a not-to-bemissed evening of incredible dance.
This special evening of big band dance music by this
fantastic Big Band promises to be one of the festival’s
most lively evenings of jazz. The Blackburn with
Darwen Music Service Big Band, led by its musical
director Paul J Rigby, will lead audiences through an
up-tempo set of jazz classics and some modern tunes
too. The iconic setting of the Beach Ballroom will
ensure this show is a festival highlight for the young
people performing and the audiences too.
THEATRE DOUBLE BILL WITH APA YOUTH
THEATRE (SCOTLAND) AND HOTEL ECHO
THEATRE COMPANY (ENGLAND)
Spotlight Session & Freshly
Squeezed
VENUE: Lemon Tree TIME: 7.30pm COST: £6
WATCHTONE (ENGLAND) AND NORTH-EAST
FOLK COLLECTIVE (SCOTLAND)
VENUE: The Blue Lamp DOORS: 8.00pm
COST: £11 & £7 (c)
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
WEDNESDAY
JULY 30
A double bill of traditional and contemporary folk presented
by infectious local trad group the North-east Folk Collective,
and followed by Newcastle based Watchtone, infusing
contemporary Scottish tunes with complex underlying tones
and rhythms. North-east Folk Collective is led by local fiddle
empressario Sharon Hassan and Chris Meredith (fiddle),
Kev Lees (fiddle), Laura Bell (sax) and Graeme Armstrong
(guitar) are the Watchtone quartet.
THURSDAY
JULY 29
“There was once a wide, windswept place, near nowhere
and close to forgotten”…Both of these companies have
been selected to participate in National Theatre of
Scotland’s project “The Tin Forest” and will premier their
newly devised shows, which have been developed in
response to the stimulus above, during the Glasgow 2014
Cultural programme.
.9
THURSDAY, JULY 31
Classical Concert
Classical
CHAMBER MUSIC PROJECT PARTICIPANTS
WITH HEBRIDES ENSEMBLE
NORMAN COOPER CHAMBER MUSIC
COMPETITION
VENUE: Queen’s Cross Church Sanctuary
TIME: 1.00pm COST: £6
VENUE: Queen’s Cross Church Sanctuary
TIME: 4.00pm COST: £6
Young participants from this year’s Chamber Music
Project will perform work that they have learned
and rehearsed in the summer course as part of AIYF.
The young musicians taking part in this project are
the next generation of Scotland’s top-level classical
musicians and come from all over the country to learn
and perform during this course.
With a very high quality of orchestras attending this
year’s festival, this will be a highly competitive event,
open to any chamber ensemble taking part in AIYF
2014, as well as local young musicians who
live or study in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire or
Moray. Contact the AIYF on how to enter.
Supported by: AIYF Festival Friends Founders Bequest
Dance
AIYF INTERNATIONAL DANCE GALA
VENUE: His Majesty’s Theatre TIME: 7.30pm
COST: £22 & £10 (c)
The AIYF International Dance Gala is the festival’s
annual showcase of wonderful choreography
from across the world, with 2014 featuring ballet,
contemporary, jazz, and traditional dance from
countries such as Japan, Czech Republic, USA,
Azerbaijan, Jordan, Israel, Ukraine & Scotland and
more making this a top-quality high-energy event.
Opera
Theatre
ROYAL CONSERVATOIRE OF SCOTLAND
(RCOS) – OPERA RESIDENCY PERFORM OPERA
SCENES AND SONGS
HARVEST FIRE BY YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE
(YMT) UK
VENUE: Elphinstone Hall, University of Aberdeen
TIME: 7.30pm COST: £11 & £7 (c)
This is the culminating event for all the participants on
the AIYF Opera project following a week of acting
workshops with director Mark Hathaway, and group
music coaching with head of opera, Tim Dean. This
evening of opera scenes and song is an opportunity to
put their new skills to the test by appearing in this public
concert held in an outstanding venue.
10 .
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
VENUE: Lemon Tree Studio TIME: 7.30pm
COST: £6
Harvest Fire is a bold, exciting new work created by
director Lewis Barfoot. The inspiration comes from two
annual festivals: The Burning Man Festival in America
and the Harvest Festival (Lúnasa) in Scotland – a
traditional time to celebrate the end of the harvest.
But something else happens at this time of year – the
veil between the worlds of the living and the dead
loosens and the spirit world joins the living, after which
things will never be the same.
THURSDAY, JULY 31
Jazz
YOUNG SCOTTISH JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE
YEAR – PREVIOUS WINNERS
VENUE: Blue Lamp DOORS: 8.00pm
COST: £11 & £7 (C)
A stunning evening of jazz is promised here when some of
the previous winners of the Young Scottish Jazz Musician
of the Year award perform as part of this year’s AIYF jazz
programme. Previous winners include, drummer Corrie Dick
and pianist Alan Benzie.
Supported by the Scottish Jaz Federation
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1
Opera
Classical
OPERA, FAMILY AND FUN
UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN OGSTON MUSIC
PRIZE FINALISTS
VENUE: Lemon Tree TIME: 11.00am COST: £6
An informal hour of songs, scenes, stories and opera
suitable for all ages. This morning of fun is aimed at
families, and no-one is too young or too old, to enjoy
this laughter-filled workshop.
FESTIVAL
RADIO
Every day on shmuFM 99.8 FM
Theatre
VENUE: Lemon Tree TIME: 2.30pm & 7.30pm
COST: £6
UP CLOSE AND MUSICAL
Richard Bailey (piano)
Cheryl Bell (oboe) & Kay
Ritchie (flute) NESMS
VENUE: Queen's Cross Church Sanctuary
TIME: 3.00pm COST: £6
Richard, Cheryl and Kay are stalwarts of the AIYF’s
“Up Close and Musical” concert series, performing
this year for the 6th year running. They will perform
contemporary music and the programme will feature
Madeleine Dring’s witty “Trio for flute, oboe and piano”
as a favourite of the group’s, and the “Suite Bourgeoise”
as one of Malcolm Arnold’s earlier chamber works.
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
FRIDAY
AUGUST 1
Harvest Fire is a bold, exciting new work created by
director Lewis Barfoot. The inspiration comes from two
annual festivals: The Burning Man Festival in America
and the Harvest Festival (Lúnasa) in Scotland – a
traditional time to celebrate the end of the harvest.
But something else happens at this time of year – the
veil between the worlds of the living and the dead
loosens and the spirit world joins the living, after which
things will never be the same.
A concert featuring winners and finalists of the
prestigious Ogston prize held by the University of
Aberdeen each year. The concert will showcase some
of the top musicians from across the whole student
population. Previous winners have gone on to a variety
of careers and still appear as part of AIYF, such is the
depth of talent participating.
THURSDAY
JULY 31
HARVEST FIRE BY YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE
(YMT) UK
VENUE: Ferryhill Church TIME: 1.00pm
COST: £6
. 11
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1
Orchestras
Traditional Music Concert
ISO SYMPHONY OF THE INTERSCHOOL
ORCHESTRAS OF NEW YORK (USA) &
AMERSFOORT YOUTH ORCHESTRA
(THE NETHERLANDS)
AIYF BIG BAND CEÒL MÒR AND THE FÈIS
ROIS NATIONAL CEILIDH TRAIL
VENUE: Music Hall TIME: 7.30pm COST: £15 &
£10 (c) (Cabaret set-up downstairs but tickets can be
purchased for balcony)
Collaborative orchestral concert presenting Bernstein's Candide
Overture and elements from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Suite.
Also pieces from from Rimsky Korsakov, Ravel,
Prokofiev, Beethoven and Copland.
VENUE: Lemon Tree (Lounge) DOORS: 9.00pm
COST: £10 & £8 (c)
Many of the best young traditional musicians in Scotland
together for a fantastic concert of contemporary Scottish
traditional music. This promises to be a real experience
of modern Scottish culture with the edge of 21st century
setting off our cultural heritage embedded in the music.
Sponsored by Apache
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2
Dance 2014
Theatre
PROJECT Y 2014
APA YOUTH THEATRE (SCOTLAND) AND
AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATRE (SAN
FRANCISCO) PRESENT INDEPENDENCE
VENUE: ACT Aberdeen TIME: 7.30pm COST: £6
Specially crafted pieces will be presented during this
evening, profiling some of Scotland’s most exciting and
best young dance talent. Project Y is a performance
training programme run by YDance, Scotland’s National
Youth Dance Organisation for talented young dancers
aged 12 to 21, and this year there will be new works
by Anna Kenrick (YDance Artistic Director) and guest
choreographers Colin Connor and Lina Limosani.
12 .
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
VENUE: Lemon Tree TIME: 2.30pm COST: £6
For the third year running APA and ACT have
collaborated to commission a new piece of writing for
their talented groups of young actors. This latest work
is by a Scottish writer looking at independence in its
broadest sense of the word. AIYF gets the exclusive first
rehearsed reading before the play is produced by both
companies in the Autumn.
Concert
INTERNATIONAL VARIETY GALA
VENUE: His Majesty’s Theatre TIME: 2.30 pm & 7.30pm COST: Matinee: £20 & £15 (c) Evening
Tickets: £25 & £15 (c)
The AIYF Variety Gala showcases the best music, dance, song and theatre from the festival programme,
all wrapped up in two stunning performances. This show offers a fast-paced celebration of music, dance,
theatre, orchestra and jazz. Featuring companies from all over the world including Azerbaijan, Czech
Republic, Ukraine, Jordan, Russia, Egypt & Zimbabwe as well as home grown Scottish performers too!
Sponsored by Shell & BP
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2
AIYF Spotlight Session
& Freshly Squeezed
FOREST FIRES WITH VELVET AUDIO &
SEAS STARRY
VENUE: Lemon Tree DOORS: 8.00pm COST: £11
Since Forest Fires played their first show in 2011, they have
been nominated at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards
for “Best Newcomer”, played a Radio 1 live session for
Ally McCrae, launched their debut EP, released a handful
of videos and played a headline tour across Scotland.
Classical
UP CLOSE AND MUSICAL – NICHOLAS
HARRIS (PIANO)
VENUE: Queens Cross Church Sanctuary
TIME: 3.00pm Cost: £6
This much travelled and award-winning concert pianist
will be performing Schumann’s Davidsbündlertänze
op. 6 and a Mozart Sonata number 3 in Bb Major,
KV281. Nicholas is also appearing as a soloist with
the Amersfoort Orchestra at AIYF and brings a rich
experience of learning including time at the Amsterdam
Conservatory and Yehudi Menuhin School in London.
FRIDAY
AUGUST 1
SATURDAY
AUGUST 2
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
. 13
COMMUNITIES TOUR
The Communities Tour is once again bringing some of
the best local, national and international young talent to
areas across the city.
are brought to communities such as Garthdee, Tillydrone,
Northfield, Seaton and Torry. From music, dance and
theatre, there are many shows to choose from.
This is an opportunity for young people from all
over the world to meet people from communities in
Aberdeen that would not normally have the chance
to see or hear AIYF’s performers. From mother and
toddler groups to youth centres and care homes, the
Communities Tour, kindly sponsored by Marathon Oil,
provides a wonderful experience for the young people
The Communities Tour allows audiences, both young
and old, to engage with AIYF and its participants
in their own community setting. Bringing together
the festival’s global focus with its home city, the
Communities Tour is an invaluable part of AIYF.
involved and the audiences too!
Audiences can expect many diverse performances from
musicians, actors and dancers, as traditions and talents
Please visit the Communities Tour page on the AIYF
website for more information about what shows are
coming to a place near you!
www.aiyf.org
AIYF SPOTLIGHT SESSIONS
AND FRESHLY SQUEEZED
Returning after last year’s successful run, AIYF has once
again programmed a series of shows, which showcase
young acts that have already turned professional in a
bid to support talent development, even when young
artists have already turned a corner in their careers.
These shows also recognise that young talent,
particularly musicians, are becoming professional at a
younger age and also need our support.
This year AIYF’s Spotlight Session & Freshly Squeezed
have taken another step in the right direction by crossprogramming young talent in collaboration with the
Supported by Creative Scotland
14 .
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
Lemon Tree’s very own Freshly Squeezed initiative.
The Freshly Squeezed project, led by the Lemon Tree,
also looks to support and nurture emerging young local
and national talent across all genres of music.
We see these ‘sessions’ as being an important part
in the development of young artists who get the
opportunity through these shows to play live sessions
for young audiences that may not previously have
enjoyed their work.
GET
SCOTLAND
DANCING
The Four Seasons Project
Over the past four decades, Scotland has been a world leader in community dance. To celebrate this, and to tie in with
what will be a pivotal year in the country’s development, ‘Get Scotland Dancing’, an exciting new initiative to get Scots
dancing, is taking place around the country.
As part of this project more than 250 organisations are coming together to provide thousands of opportunities for people
to take part in and enjoy a huge range of dance activities throughout Scotland and across the world.
As part of this programme, young people from Aberdeen City and Shire, as well as Moray, will create a new large-scale
dance performance, The Four Seasons, marrying the North-East of Scotland’s reputation for ‘four seasons in one day’
with Vivaldi’s most famous score.
Over three weeks in June/July, four local groups of dancers with varying levels of experience will work with
internationally-renowned choreographers and community dance artists, Royston Maldoom and Tamara McLorg.
This incredibly talented duo will lead the artistic vision and will create some of the dances. Supported by selected
Scottish dance artists, Royston and Tamara will then set the overall choreographic framework and split the
movements between the four groups who will create their own choreography, before finally coming together to
create the finished performance.
The Four Seasons will have its world premiere on Sunday 20 July, with performances at 5.00pm and 7.30pm at His
Majesty’s Theatre. The performances are free but tickets must be booked in advance via Aberdeen Box Office www.
boxofficeaberdeen.com
The project is commissioned by Get Scotland Dancing as part of Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme and produced by
Aberdeen International Youth Festival with support from Citymoves Dance Agency.
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
. 15
AIYF
AT A GLANCE
SUNDAY, JULY 20
Dance Special Pre-Festival Performance: The Four
Seasons Dance Event – Get Scotland Dancing, His
Majesty’s Theatre. Time: 5.00pm & 7.30pm
SATURDAY, JULY 26
AIYF International Street Parade and Party, All Groups,
Route finishes outside John Lewis. Start Time: 11.00am
Festival in the City, City Centre. Time: 1.00pm –
4.00pm
North-East Harp Ensemble, Up Close and Musical, Venue
TBC. Time: 4.00pm
Oxford Lieder Young Artists – Kangmin Justin Kim
(Counter Tenor) and Sachika Taniyama (Piano),
Queen’s Cross Church Sanctuary. Time: 7.30pm
Mitchell School of Drama (MSD), Our Scotland,
Lemon Tree. Time: 7:30pm
Casino Circus with Be Like Pablo and Daniel Mutch,
Lemon Tree Freshly Squeezed with AIYF Spotlight
Session & Freshly Squeezed, Lemon Tree (Lounge)
Doors: 9.00pm
SUNDAY, JULY 27
THURSDAY, JULY 24
Mitchell School of Drama (MSD), Our Scotland,
Lemon Tree. Time: 7:30pm
Welcome Ceremony, Music Hall. Time: 3.00pm
Grampian Youth Orchestra (GYO) and Amersfoort
Youth Orchestra, Music Hall. Time: 7.30pm
Opera Masterclass, Elphinstone Hall, University of
Aberdeen. Time: 7.30pm
FRIDAY, JULY 25
The Robbie Burns Performers, Young Burns performers
from across Scotland, Elphinstone Hall, University of
Aberdeen. Time: 2.30pm & 8.00pm
Garthdee International Concert, Featuring Beijing 57
High School Jinfan Marching Band, Ballet Prague Junior,
Simunye Simunye Arts, and Egyptian Folk Dance Group,
Inchgarth Community Centre, Garthdee. Time: 7:30pm
Mitchell School of Drama (MSD), Our Scotland,
Lemon Tree. Time: 7:30pm
MONDAY, JULY 28
Madison Youth Choirs & Quarry Hill Primary School
Choir, Up Close and Musical, St Machar Cathedral.
Time: 11.00am
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Opera Song Studio,
Up Close and Musical, Elphinstone Hall, University of
Aberdeen, Time: 1.00pm
Beijing Jingshan School & Young Russian Soloists,
International Performance Evening, ACT Aberdeen.
Time: 7.30pm
Concert with Scokendia Ensemble and Laura Ayoub,
Queen's Cross Church Sanctuary. Time: 7.30pm
Buraydah Theatre Group & La Camotera Teatro,
Lemon Tree (Studio). Time: 7.30pm
16 .
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
TUESDAY, JULY 29
THURSDAY, JULY 31
Elizabeth Gorchakova and Karpenko Mila (Russia).
Time: 11.00am
Chamber Music Project Participants Concert, Queen’s
Cross Church Sanctuary. Time: 1.00pm
Beijing Jingshan School, Up Close and Musical, Venue
TBC. Time: 1.00pm
Norman Cooper Chamber Music Competition,
Queen’s Cross Church Sanctuary. Time: 4.00pm
Aberdeen and North-east of Scotland Music Festival
selected performers, Up Close and Musical, Cults
Parish Church. Time: 2.00pm
AIYF International Dance Gala, His Majesty’s Theatre.
Time: 7.30pm
Madison Youth Choir & National Youth Choir of Scotland
(NYCOS) boys' choir, Music Hall. Time: 7.30pm
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCoS), Opera
Residency perform opera scenes and songs,
Elphinstone Hall, University of Aberdeen. Time: 7.30pm
Ballet Prague Junior, Zaccho Youth Dance Company, The
Northern Exchange and the Beijing 57 High School Jinfan
Marching Band, International School. Time: 7.30pm
Youth Music Theatre (YMT) UK, Harvest Fire, Lemon Tree.
Time: 7.30pm
Fusion Youth Dance Company, Theatre School of Modern
Dance “Potoki”, Guf Rishon, Lemon Tree. Doors: 7.30pm
Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year previous
winners, The Blue Lamp. Time: 8.00pm
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1
Opera, Family and Fun, Lemon Tree. Time: 11.00am
Classical, University of Aberdeen Ogston Music Prize
Finalists, Ferryhill Church. Time: 1.00pm
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
Youth Music Theatre (YMT) UK, Harvest Fire, Lemon
Tree. Time: 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Silverbirch Duo, Up Close and Musical, Queen’s
Cross Church Sanctuary. Time: 1.00pm
NESMS, Up Close and Musical, Queen's Cross
Church Sanctuary. Time: 3.00pm
NESMS Performers, Up Close and Musical, Ferryhill
Church. Time: 3.00pm
Saiga Ballet and Ballet Prague Junior, ACT Aberdeen.
Time: 7:30pm
Blackburn with Darwen Music Services Big Band,
Beach Ballroom. Time: 7.30pm
APA Youth Theatre and Hotel Echo Theatre Company,
Lemon Tree. Time: 7.30pm
Watchtone and North East Folk Collective, Spotlight Session
& Freshly Squeezed, The Blue Lamp. Time: 8.00pm
ISO Symphony of the InterSchool Orchestras of New York
& Amersfoort Youth Orchestra, Music Hall. Time: 7.30pm
AIYF Big Band Ceòl Mòr and the Fèis Rois National
Ceilidh Trail, Traditional Music Concert, Lemon Tree
(Lounge). Doors: 9.00pm
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2
APA Youth Theatre and American Conservatory Theatre,
INDEPENDENCE, Lemon Tree. Time: 2.30pm
International Variety Gala, His Majesty’s Theatre.
Time: 2.30 pm & 7.30pm
Project Y 2014, ACT Aberdeen. Time: 7.30pm
Forest Fires with Velvet Audio & Seas Starry, Freshly
Squeezed with AIYF Spotlight Session & Freshly
Squeezed, Lemon Tree. Doors: 8.00pm
Up Close & Musical – Nichloas Harris. Queens Cross
Church Sanctuary. Time: 3.00pm
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
. 17
THE SPOTLIGHT
SESSIONS
SCOTLAND
BE LIKE PABLO
Be Like Pablo are a noisy powerpop band from quiet, rural Scotland who make catchy pop songs with girl/boy
harmonies, Moog synthesizers, noisy guitars and a healthy dose of nerdy enthusiasm! The band consists of Ewen
Watson on vocals/guitar/synthesizers, Ross Watson on guitar/vocals, Karen Johnston on syntheizers/vocals,
Jamie Murphy on bass/vocals, and Andrew Stepien on drums/samples.
Hailing from the small Scottish town of Forres, Be Like Pablo write bright, summer-sounding songs inspired by both classic
pop music and alternative bands such as Weezer, Ash, Silver Sun and Ben Kweller. Since the band was founded, Be
Like Pablo has performed live on both BBC Radio One and BBC Radio Scotland and played at many festivals throughout
Scotland including: T in the Park, Rockness, Wickerman and The Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival.
The band’s debut album, The New Adventures, was released in 2013 through London-based label Sray Cat Records
and received airplay from Dermot O’Leary, Steve Lamacq, Vic Galloway, Ally McCrae and Jen long.
CASINO CIRCUS
Casino Circus are a four piece stripped down indie/punk band from Aberdeen. The band love playing live and
embrace putting on an energetic and lively performance.
Formed in Ellon the band describe their sound as “indie with an energetic edge”, united through a shared love
for pop-punk.
DANIEL MUTCH
Daniel Mutch is a 21-year-old singer/songwriter from Aberdeen. With his mother from the tropical island of Bali and his
father from the heart of the Granite City, Daniel has taken his unique background and experiences into writing songs.
With his main influences deriving from his musical idol John Mayer, current singer/songwriter extraordinaire Ben Howard
and other acts such as Lifehouse, Charlie Simpson, City and Colour and Bon Iver, Daniel has mixed all of these artist’s
qualities and created an original blend of honest lyrical expression.
In his very short career, Daniel has managed to reach relative success with his first two single releases. His debut ‘Lullaby’
managed to reach #15 in the iTunes singer/songwriter chart. His second single ‘Counting Stars’ reached #5.
His debut EP ‘Chapter One’ was released at the end of March 2013.
Still an unsigned artist, Daniel is actively looking to book himself into many gigs and opportunities which can help promote
his music in any way possible.
18 .
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
FOREST FIRES
Since Forest Fires played the first show in 2011 the band has been nominated at the Scottish Alternative Music
Awards for “Best Newcomer”, played a Radio 1 live session for Ally McCrae, launched a debut EP, released
a handful of videos and played a headline tour across Scotland, as well as receiving local and national press
coverage. Forest Fires are a four piece Alternative/Rock band from Aberdeen.
They were named as one of Vic Galloway’s ‘bands to watch in 2013’ and are renowned for their live performances.
Accolades given to the band include this stamp of approval from Ally McCrae at Radio 1 “They are the sort of band
that will be filling stadiums in the future!” and this from Scotland’s very own Vic Galloway, "Muscular yet melodic rock".
VELVET AUDIO
Velvet Audio are a three piece alt/rock band from Aberdeen formed in the summer of 2007. They quickly developed
a positive rapport with the locals and began generating a local fan base. They have been showcased on several
local stations including, Original 106, Northsound 1 Waves radio and most notably Radio 1.
The band have gigged extensively around the North-east, won high praise from Scotland’s very own music mogul
legend and Oasis discoverer, Alan McGee, and have played at the famed Bull and Gate venue in London.
SEAS, STARRY
Seas, Starry are an instrumental/ambient/shoegaze band who draw inspiration from the effects-laden guitar sound
of My Bloody Valentine, the minimalism of Labradford and the driving beats of Errors. The band are based in
Aberdeen and have played a variety of live venues in and around the North-east.
The band consists of Mike Blair, Claire Harkins, Ross MacBeath, Shaun Peters and Jan Stewart. A self-released
home-recorded demo can be found on BandCamp as well as several tracks recorded for the Not A Teepee
compilations collective.
Live, Seas, Starry have shared bills with the likes of Joan of Arc, Hot Club de Paris, HT RK, Matricarians, Esperi
and Conquering Animal Sound.
ENGLAND
WATCHTONE
Watchtone are a fresh and exciting Newcastle-based band that infuses contemporary Scottish tunes with complex
underlying tones and rhythms. Dazzling audiences with their own compositions and arrangements, Chris Meredith
(fiddle), Kev Lees (fiddle), Laura Bell (sax) and Graeme Armstrong (guitar) make up this innovative quartet.
Chris Meredith is a Scottish fiddle player and guitarist just back from his second tour in Norway with NE3Folk.
Hailing from the historic border town of Jedburgh, Graeme Armstrong developed his style of playing amongst many
of the great players based in the heart of the Scottish culture and traditional music scene in Glasgow.
Kevin Lees has been playing the fiddle now for over 15 years, having been brought up on the vibrant youth folk
music scene in Newcastle upon Tyne. Laura Bell, sax player, brings graceful and delicate sax style that provides a
progressive and complex dimension to the group.
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
. 19
EXTENDED
FESTIVAL
SUNDAY, JULY 27
MONDAY, JULY 28
Scokendia
THE THEATRE SCHOOL OF MODERN DANCE
‘POTOKI’ (UKRAINE), ELBRUS (JORDAN),
ZACCHO YOUTH DANCE COMPANY (USA) &
SIAGA BALLET (JAPAN).
VENUE: TBC TIME: 7.30pm TICKETS: TBC
Commonwealth Games Cultural Programme
collaborative project with top young classical musicians
from Scotland, Kenya and India performing new work,
and led by Scottish tenor Jamie Munn.
VENUE: Webster Theatre, Arbroath
TIME: 7.30pm TICKETS: £8 & £ 5 (c)
Available from: T: 01241 435 800
Four outstanding dance companies perform classical
and contemporary pieces in an international dance
evening that will offer ballet, modern choreography
from the USA and Ukraine, as well as traditional
costumes and pieces from Jordan.
MONDAY, JULY 28
BALLET PRAGUE JUNIOR (CZECH REPUBLIC)
AND THE EGYPTIAN FOLK DANCE GROUP
(EGYPT)
VENUE: Woodend Barn, Banchory TIME: 7.30pm
TICKETS: £5 plus bf of 10%. Available from: www.
woodendbarn.co.uk T: 01330 825 431
Ballet Prague Junior and The Egyptian Folk Dance
Group are two highly talented dance companies
performing at Woodend Barn this July with an
exciting ballet, traditional dance and music show. The
companies will be profiling some of their newest work,
and will bring a real international flavour to this lovely
community in the heart of Aberdeenshire.
20 .
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
Fèis Rois National Ceilidh
Trail (Scotland)
VENUE: Braemar Hall TIME: 8.00pm
TICKETS: at door or available from Braemar
Pharmacy and Newsagent Tickets £6/£4/£3
Young traditional musicians from across Scotland bring
their beautifully crafted songs and driving tune sets
to the heart of Braemar. A promise of an entertaining
performance of both traditional and contemporary folk
music and an enjoyable show for all them family.
MONDAY, JULY 28
Simunye Simunye Arts
(Zimbabwe)
Amersfoort Jeugd Orchestra
(Netherlands)
VENUE: Victoria Hall, Ballater TIME: 7.30pm
TICKETS: TBC Available from: 46 Bridge Street,
or BRD office T: 01339 755467
VENUE: Banff/MacDuff tbc TIME: 7.30pm
TICKETS: £8 Available from: Alistair Mason,
Deveron Music: 0121 812941 or on the door.
Traditional music, theatre, song and dance from this
Zimbabwean group whose aim is to promote the
One of The Netherlands’ most talented regional youth
orchestras will perform under its conductor Rolf Buijs.
culture of the country.
Billed as a vibrant concert, the evening’s repertoire will
include pieces by Tchaikovsky and Franck.
TUESDAY, JULY 29
The Northern Exchange
(Scotland/Norway/Finland)
Amersfoort Jeugd Orchestra
(Netherlands)
VENUE: TBC TIME: 7.30pm TICKETS: £8
Available from: TBC.
VENUE: Webster Theatre, Arbroath
TIME: 7.30pm TICKETS: £8 & £ 5 (c)
Available from: T: 01241 435 800
Traditional and classical musicians from these three
countries come together to create an ensemble, which
fuses the music together under the guidance of Scottish
musician, Mike Vass.
One of The Netherlands’ most talented regional youth
orchestras will perform under its conductor Rolf Buijs.
Billed as a vibrant concert, the evening’s repertoire will
include: Piano Concerto No 1 by Tchaikovsky and
Symphony in D minor by Franck.
TUESDAY, JULY 29
Fèis Rois National Ceilidh
Trail (Scotland)
VENUE: Salmon Bothy, Portsoy TIME: 7.30pm
TICKETS: £7 & £4 from www.salmonbothy.org.uk
or 01261 842951
Young traditional musicians from across Scotland bring
a full Ceilidh live experience to the heart of Portsoy. An
uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable show for all the family.
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
. 21
TUESDAY, JULY 29
Saiga Ballet (Japan),
Simunye Simunye (South
Africa), The Egyptian Folk
Dance Group (Egypt)
VENUE: Inverurie Town Hall, Inverurie
TIME: 7.30pm TICKETS: £8 & £6 (c) Available from:
Aberdeen Box Office www.boxofficeaberdeen.com
or Strachans of Inverurie: T: 01467 621 489
Eagles of Azerbaijan
& Elbrus Dance Troupe
Azerbaijan (Jordan)
VENUE: TBC TIME: 7.30pm TICKETS: tbc
Available from:
Two beautiful traditional companies bring their cultural
choreography and stunning costiumes to this show.
Three outstanding international companies will perform
an exciting mix of traditional song and dance alongside
exquisite contemporary ballet.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
22 .
Singing Duo (Russia),
Theatre School of Modern
Dance ‘Potoki’ (Ukraine),
Elbrus (Jordan), Simunye
Simunye (Zimbabwe)
Eagles of Azerbaijan
(Azerbaijan), Egyptian Folk
Dance Group (Egypt) and
Fèis Rois National Ceilidh Trail
(Scotland).
VENUE: Dalrymple Hall, Fraserburgh TIME: 7.30pm
TICKETS: £8 & £5 (c) Available from: R & S Dyga,
51 Broad Street, Fraserburgh T: 01346 518 751
or from the venue.
VENUE: Westhill Trinity Church, Westhill
TIME: 7.30pm TICKETS: £8 & £5 (c) Available
from: Parish office after church on Sundays and from
a selection of local shops.
An exciting international evening of incredible talent from across
the globe including dance, song and regional African music.
This popular extended festival venue hosts performers of
traditional music and dance from Scotland, Egypt and Azerbaijan.
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
Buraydah Theatre Group
(Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) &
La Camotera Teatro (Mexico)
VENUE: Woodend Barn, Banchory TIME: 7.30pm
TICKETS: £5 Available from: www.woodendbarn.
co.uk T: 01330 825 431
Moving and thought-provoking dramas about people and
relationships. Buraydah Theatre Group presents “A play of a
window” a drama about two brothers living in one house in
one room and La Camotera Teatro presents “Station” a love
story, performed without words but true emotion.
ISO Symphony of the
InterSchools Orchestras of
New York (USA)
VENUE: tbc TIME: 7.30pm TICKETS:£8 & £5 (c)
Available from: Elgin St. Giles’ and
St. Columba’s South
Wonderful orchestra made up of some of New York’s
finest young classical musicians. A real treat to see
them perform in the heart of the North-east.
The Northern Exchange
(Scotland/Norway/Finland)
VENUE: St. Ninian’s & Forglen Church’ Turriff
TIME: 7.30pm TICKETS: £8 & £5 (c) Available
from: The Church T: 01888 560282
Traditional and classical musicians from these three
countries come together to create an ensemble which
fuses the music together under the guidance of Scottish
musician Mike Vass.
Guf Rishon and Guf Sheni
(Isreal), Fusion Youth Dance
(Scotland) and Zaccho Youth
Dance (USA)
VENUE: Deeside Theatre, Bridgeview Road, Aboyne
TIME: 7.30pm TICKETS: £8 & £6 (c) Available
from: The Deeside Theatre T: 01339 886 222 or
Aberdeen Box office: www.boxofficeaberdeen.com
Exciting and inspirational evening of international
contemporary dance from Scotland, USA and Israel
THURSDAY, JULY 31
Madison Youth Choirs (USA),
Blackburn with Darwen
Music Services Big Band
(England), Feis Ros National
Ceilidh Trail (Scotland)
VENUE: Stonehaven Town Hall, Stonehaven
TIME: 7.30pm TICKETS: £8 & £6 (c) Available
from: Stonehaven Tourist Office
Acclaimed youth choir from the USA, big band jazz
from England and traditional music from the Fèis Ros
National Ceilidh Trail.
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
. 23
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1
Watchtone, (UK)
Madison Youth Choirs (USA)
VENUE: Melvin Hall, Tarves TIME: 7.30pm
TICKETS: £8 & £6 (c) Available from: Tarves
Heritage Centre, T: 01651 851883
VENUE: Brechin Cathedral, Brechin TIME: 7.30pm
TICKETS: £8 & £6 (c) Available from: Cathedral
Office, 6 Church St T: 01356 629 360 between
9.30am and 12 noon.
Newcastle based group of respected young
traditional musicians known for performing upbeat and
entertaining live shows.
Internationally acclaimed youth choir form the USA will
be performing a classical set in this unique setting in the
North-east of Scotland. As many as 80 young voices
will present an uplifting and exciting repertoire during
this choir's first ever visit to AIYF and Scotland.
Blackburn with Darwen Music
Services Big Band
VENUE: Kemnay Village Hall TIME: 7.30pm
TICKETS: £8 & £6 (c) Available from: The Hair
Shop T: 01467 642177; Kemnay Library T: 01467
643906; Kintore Library T: 01467 634393
VENUE: tbc TIME: 7.30pm TICKETS: tbc
Available from: tbc
Returning for a third year, this fantastic Big Band from
the North-west of England bring a wide range of
repertoire that will make it difficult for you to not want to
get up and dance.
Moving and thought provoking dramas about people and
relationships. Buraydah Theatre Group presents “A play of
a window” a drama about two brothers living in one house
in one room and La Camotera Teatro presents “Station” a
love story, performed without words but true emotion.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 3
SATURDAY, AUGUST 9
ISO Symphony of the
InterSchool Orchestras of New
York (USA)
Dlooko School Choir (South
Africa)
VENUE: St. Margaret’s Church, Braemar
TIME: 7.30pm TICKETS: £10 (c), £7 & £5 (under
16). Available from: [email protected]
directly or from the Braemar Pharmacy.
This 50 strong orchestra brought together from schools
across the city of New York bring a high quality of
musicianship and a wide repertoire of accessible music.
24 .
Buraydah Theatre Group
(Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) &
La Camotera Teatro (Mexico)
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
VENUE: Woodend Barn, Banchory TIME: 7.30pm
TICKETS: tbc Available from: www.woodendbarn.
co.uk T: 01330 825 431
The Dloko School Choir comes from an impoverished
school in J Section, Umlazi, a township on the outskirts
of Durban, South Africa. The choir sings Zulu and
gospel songs entirely from memory. They “feel” the
music and are highly accomplished singers with perfect
intuitive harmonies.
B ON A T
COMPETITION
SPONSORED BY SHELL
This year, and following the success of 2013
‘B on a T’ competition, Aberdeen International
Youth Festival (AIYF) supported by Shell,
challenged all young people from Primary and
Secondary schools across Aberdeen City and
Shire to design the Festival t-shirts.
AIYF called on budding young artists aged 5 to 17
to come-up with a design for the front of the festival’s
t-shirts which will be worn by over 1,000 international,
national and local participants, staff and volunteers
during this year’s festival.
Hundreds of entries were received from schools across
the North-East of Scotland, ranging from Robert Gordon’s
College to Kennethmont School. The winning design was
selected by our panel of judges from Shell, AIYF and
SMART Consultants who had a hard time choosing a
winner from this year’s fabulous selection of entries.
Some lucky pupils received workshops from Aberdeenbased artist Katarína Chomová, who visited some
schools to help children with their designs, inspiring
them and encouraging them to be more creative with
their own work.
This year, Summer Mapplebeck from Bucksburn
Academy was the overall winner with a wonderful
design that showed intricate detail and artistry.
Summer will see her design on every festival t-shirt
during AIYF and she received vouchers for Hobbycraft
art shop and tickets for festival Shows. Bucksburn
Academy School won a generous £400 cash prize
kindly donated by our sponsor Shell UK that will allow
new art materials to be bought for the school.
Summer Mapplebeck
Bucksburn Academy
T-shirt Winner
There were four runners up which were Molly Mutch,
Age 10, Strathburn Primary School; Louise Rae, Age13,
Northfield Academy; Holly Walker, Age 11, Newburgh
Mathers School and Emma Williams, Age 13, Albyn
School. They received vouchers for a local art outlet and
tickets to some of the festival’s top performances.
The winners and some of the best entries from the competition
will be exhibited during the festival at the new exhibition
space on Seventeen,17 Belmont Street in Aberdeen.
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
. 25
CHOIRS
SCOTLAND
ABERDEEN CHORAL
ENSEMBLES (ACE)
ACE is based at Airyhall Community Centre and is a
community music project that is a partnership between
the centre and Alexander Miller, a freelance musician
and singing tutor. He uses the many different singing
methods from games, the Kodaly activities and more
traditional choral training, to open the door to singing
for the young participants.
With support from students from the University
of Aberdeen, music department and other music
specialists, the ACE members, some as young as six,
get an ongoing exposure to the power of song as a
tool for creativity, confidence and group collaboration.
This fairly inexperienced group is stepping gently into
the festival with the hope for years to come that they
can grow and develop their participation in the event.
NYCOS NATIONAL BOYS'
CHOIR
NYCoS is one of AIYF’s frequent highly professional
participants and the 2014 boys' choir will bring a
wide ranging repertoire, brought to life under the
guidance of conductor Frikki Walker.
The National Youth Choir of Scotland has four National
Choirs which provide singing opportunities at the
highest level for Scotland’s young singers.
NYCoS National Boys' Choir is for singers aged 10
to 16 years and is structured in three sections: Junior
Corps, NBC and Changed Voices.
The choir provides a unique opportunity for young
singers to sing together at the highest standard.
Consistently delighting audiences since it began in
2002, the choir has gone from strength to strength
with performances all across the UK from the Edinburgh
International Festival to BBC Proms in the Park.
The most talented young singers from across Scotland
were chosen to form this year’s 160 strong ensemble.
This year’s performance at AIYF is unique in that it
brings together two boys' choirs for the first time who
will share the programme for the evening before
coming together with over 120 young male singers in
a collaborative finale to the concert.
26 .
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
SCOTLAND
USA
QUARRYHILL PRIMARY
SCHOOL CHOIR (SCOTLAND)
THE MADISON YOUTH
CHOIRS (MYC)
Quarryhill Primary School is based at the heart of
the Northfield community in Aberdeen. The choir has
developed and grown out of a simple idea to give the
children some exposure to singing as a group.
The Madison Boy Choir began in 1971 after its
founder, Carrel Pray, used homemade flyers to invite the
Madison community to a free public concert featuring
a boy choir from a neighboring city. The Madison Boy
Choir grew to involve hundreds of families providing
an unparalleled music education and worldwide
performance opportunities for their sons.
These tentative sessions across the school led to a
demand for a more serious and regular activity and
over the past nine months the choir has grown to over
50 regular members from primary 1 – primary 7.
The horizons of the group have also grown so much
that they recently performed in St. Giles Cathedral in
Edinburgh as well as the Scottish Parliament.
For AIYF 2014 they have taken on the challenge of
opening one of the Up Close and Musical concerts
in St. Machar’s cathedral. This group and school staff
have shown great commitment to the power of music to
not only bring the whole school together but also gain
new skills and increased confidence.
In 2003, the Madison Boy Choir merged with the
Madison Children’s Choir to become the Madison
Youth Choirs (MYC). Today, with 11 single-gender
choirs, MYC is recognised as an innovator in youth
choral music education and serves more than 500
young people, aged 7 to 18, on an annual basis.
MYC performs for more than 30,000 audience members
annually often in collaboration with local professional
arts organisations including the Madison Symphony
Orchestra, Madison Ballet, and Madison Opera.
The 71 boys honoured to participate in the Aberdeen
International Youth Festival include singers from each
of their boy choir ensembles: Purcell, Britten, Holst and
Ragazzi. Ranging in age from 9 to 18 and including
unchanged, changing, and changed voices, these
singers represent the entire boy choir program of over
120 members.
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
. 27
DANCE
AZERBAIJAN
EAGLES OF AZERBAIJAN
This group of teenage boys was formed in 2007 by
director Bashirov Khanlar, himself a professional dancer
for 40 years. He aimed to create a dance group in order
to preserve and promote the traditional dance and culture
of Azerbaijan.
CZECH REPUBLIC
BALLET PRAGUE JUNIOR
Ballet Prague Junior is making a return visit to AIYF.
A pre-professional contemporary dance company,
the group comprises 15 young people from Dance
Centre Prague Conservatoire. With origins extending
back over seven decades, the student company has
hosted many internationally-renowned dancers and
choreographers.
The ensemble is very active with over 16 original works
produced and performed over the last decade. The
company’s 2013 production titled “Only You and Me”
won the prestigious Czech Actors’ Association’s Student
Thalia award for choreography. Ballet Prague Junior
is Dance Centre Prague’s senior ensemble, with Baby
Ballet for younger years.
This productive ensemble performs mostly in the Czech
Republic, with a few shows a year across Europe.
Ballet Prague Junior performs the very best of youth
ballet, with audiences sure to see future stars in the
world of ballet on stage.
Many of the boys come from the Shagan and Mardakan
areas of Baku, the nation’s capital; however the group
aims to represent the culture, traditions and values of all
of Azerbaijan. Their name derives from the shape of their
country next to the Caspian Sea.
Alongside dancing, audiences enjoy playing from
accompanying musicians, performing on traditional
Azerbaijani instruments such as the balaban.
Since the group began performing they have been
successful in keeping traditions alive for future generations.
Audiences across Europe have been delighted with their
lively expression of Azerbaijani traditions and customs.
JORDAN
ELBRUS CIRCASSIAN DANCE
TROUPE
This group of 15 young people from Jordan make up
Elbrus Circassian Dance Troupe. The group performs
in impressive costumes, the traditional clothing of the
Circassian people. The group has the aim to promote a
message of peace, love and harmony.
Inspired by the rich culture and heritage of the
Circassian people, the group are immaculately
choreographed. Dance is celebrated in Circassian
culture and the group unite in their enthusiasm for a
shared dream to promote good in the world.
Audiences will be treated to a view into another,
much oppressed, culture. The performance is certain
to be not only both perfectly executed but also
provide audiences with a display of young people
both celebrating their culture and heritage, as well as
ensuring that traditions carry on for another generation.
28 .
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
ISRAEL
EGYPT
EGYPTIAN FOLK DANCE GROUP
Founded in 2008, Egyptian Folk Dance Group is an
energetic dance company counting 30 dancers and
20 musicians. Its objective is to train and develop
young talents to revitalise local communities. Embracing
the Egyptian cultural heritage, the troupe sings and
performs a large variety of dances such as el-Tanoura,
dabke, belly dance and other regional folk dances.
The group’s colourful and energetic performances are
enthralling and artistically centred in the roots of Arabic
traditional dance. Egyptian Folk Dance Group enjoys
displaying its considerable talents to a broad range of
audiences and has already participated in a number of
festivals in Egypt, Korea, Chile, Turkey and England.
SCOTLAND
FUSION YOUTH DANCE
COMPANY
Fusion Youth Dance Company is based in Aberdeen
and part of the work developed by Citymoves, the
North-east of Scotland’s dance development agency.
Fusion offers talented young dancers, aged between
13 and 18, the opportunity to participate in the
creation, production and performance of contemporary
dance works at the highest-level of expertise. Dancers
take part in weekly classes, residencies with acclaimed
choreographers and are offered local, national and
international performance opportunities. After their
performances as part of AIYF, this year they will also
be involved in Commonwealth dance festival activities
and have recently participate in a youth contemporary
festival in Ireland.
GUF RISHON & GUF SHENI
FROM THE ORNA GELES STUDIO
The Orna Geles Studio is a renowned Israeli dance
school and also the oldest and most professional school
for dance and movement in the Gedera region. Although
the school has hundreds of students, it maintains a warm,
family atmosphere that emphasises personal attention.
The studio boasts a wide range of classes and dance
disciplines for children, young people and adults including
performance groups like the two groups coming to
perform at AIYF 2014, Guf Rishon and Guf Sheni.
Guf Rishon, who visited successfully as part of AIYF
20111, is the senior youth performing troupe of the studio
and was established in 1996 with dancers aged between
16 and 18. Guf Sheni is the junior troupe from Orna
Geles Studio with dancers aged between 14 and 16.
Both companies show high levels of motivation and
commitment as they strive to express through their
choreography the values of cultural activity, respect for
education and aspiration to excellence. They are directed
by a team of professional teachers and the dancers are
exceptionally dedicated and devote much of their free
time to dancing.
JAPAN
SAIGA BALLET
Saiga Ballet was formed in 1961 in Tokyo and has
been a frequent participant in the festival since 1977.
Toshiko Saiga, the founder and choreographer of
Saiga Ballet, is an honorary Friend of the festival and
one of Aberdeen’s greatest admirers.
As a member of the Dance Maker’s Society in Japan,
Saiga Ballet has presented many contemporary
ballets and has a repertoire of both classical and
contemporary ballet, such as dances from ‘La Silphide’
and Japanese old folklore. This year the company has
done some performances for some lucky audiences in
hospitals and retirement homes.
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
. 29
ZIMBABWE
SCOTLAND
SIMUNYE SIMUNYE ARTS
PROJECT Y
Simunye Simunye Arts is a vibrant group of young
people from Zimbabwe aiming to bring joy and
entertainment to the local communities through music,
drama, song and dance.
AIYF regulars Project Y are guaranteed to make
audiences sit up and take notice as they perform
what is sure to be an attention-grabbing piece of
contemporary dance. Project Y is an initiative from
Y Dance (Scottish Youth Dance) the National Youth
Dance Agency for Scotland.
Their performances have a lifelong learning message
and they provide peer education for young people
and communities. Their aim is to build and transform
communities though the arts.
Supported by: Aberdeen City Council’s Twinning Fund
UKRAINE
THEATRE SCHOOL OF
MODERN DANCE “POTOKI”
Second time visitors to AIYF, Potoki, is a Theatre School
of modern dance hailing from Ukraine. This group
has been a youth and children’s public organisation
in the city of Dniepropetrovsk, in the east of Ukraine,
since 2001. Run by director Olena Budnytska, it
simultaneously works as school of contemporary dance
for children and Youth Dance Theatre, combining
such genres as dance and theatre to create unique
choreographed and improvised pieces.
All students receive quality, varied tuition and are trained
using many techniques in numerous disciplines, including
contemporary dance, special gymnastics and yoga.
The group have performed on several different stages
both in Dniepropetrovsk and other cities throughout the
Ukraine, Russia, Moldova and other Baltic countries.
Once again The Theatre School of Modern Dance
“Potoki” are sure to put on an impressive spectacle of
modern dance.
Dancers between 16 and 21 are involved with Project
Y, and are taking part in an intensive course to learn
what it is like to be involved with a professional dance
company. Project Y dancers tour the country and get a
feel for what a career in dance is like.
Y Dance’s aim is to encourage young people to get
active and realise their potential through dance.
Presenting an innovative programme combining a
number of different styles including street dance, ballet
and break dancing, Y Dance are not to be missed.
USA
ZACCHO YOUTH DANCE
COMPANY
Zaccho Youth Company (ZYC) is a small dance
company based in San Francisco. ZYC is made up
of nine members, aged between 9 and 21. Since
the company was founded by artistic director Joanna
Haigood in 2002, the group has performed widely
both locally in the San Francisco Bay area, and across
the United States. This is their first appearance at AIYF.
The group performs ariel dance. Dancers display
strength and skill, displaying ariel flight and suspension
from various apparatus creating unusual and impressive
performances. The daring and grace that the dancers
display make for an exciting spectacle. Tackling a
variety of social issues through their performances,
from environmental justice to racial identity, any
performance from ZYC not only displays beautiful
choreography, but also provokes thought.
30 .
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
JAZZ
ENGLAND
SCOTLAND
BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN
MUSIC SERVICE BIG BAND
YOUNG SCOTTISH JAZZ
MUSICIANS OF THE YEAR
Led by Paul J Rigby, an acclaimed jazz musician,
the band was set up in 2001 to encourage up-andcoming players who wanted to develop their musical
skills further. The band has performed at many leading
events throughout the UK including the Darwen Jazz &
Blues Festival and many other venues in their area.
Since 2001 they have been on two international tours,
the first in France and more recently in Belgium, playing
on the main stage in Gent for part of their festival. The
band plays a variety of styles and has a wide range of
repertoire from Van Morrison to Amy Winehouse, from
Herbie Hancock to Henry Mancini.
This will be the third visit to AIYF and the band will
perform during the 2014 festival at Aberdeen’s
renowned Beach Ballroom venue in a pinnacle
performance that will profile this wonderfully talented
and diverse group of musicians in one of the city’s best
acoustic spaces.
For the 3rd year AIYF are delighted to welcome a
selection of winners from the annual Young Scottish Jazz
Musician of the Year competition. This year will see the
finals held in Glasgow as part of the Commonwealth
Games cultural celebrations but soon afterwards the
2014 winner will join the likes of last year’s winner,
22 year old drummer from Glasgow, Corrie Dick, in a
concert at the wonderful Blue Lamp venue.
Partners in this project that is all about promoting
young people in jazz are the Scottish Jazz Federation
and jazz at the Blue Lamp. SJF continue to promote,
mentor and develop opportunities for young musicians
to showcase their talent and support their careers.
Jazz at the Blue Lamp have created the perfect venue
and ambience for the music so festivals like AIYF can
promote the best jazz talent in the country and beyond.
The young winners of this award not only receive a
cash prize but also support for touring and recording as
well as appearances at both the Glasgow and London
jazz festivals.
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
. 31
ORCHESTRAS
SCOTLAND
NETHERLANDS
GRAMPIAN YOUTH
ORCHESTRA
AMERSFOORT YOUTH
ORCHESTRA (AYO)
Grampian Youth Orchestra (GYO) makes a welcome
return to AIYF in 2014! GYO began in 2004 as
part of AIYF, known as the Host Orchestra, and has
grown into an orchestra in its own right. Since 2006
it has worked with well-respected conductors such as
Jessica Cottis, Oliver Rundell and William Conway
and features talented soloists such as Jessica Coleman,
Alexander Janichek and Murray McLachlan.
The Amersfoort Youth Orchestra has been running
for over five decades. Proving to be one of the
Netherlands’ foremost youth orchestras, the AYO has
won many top national awards year on year. Led
by conductor Mr Rolf Buljs, AYO has been awarded
the prestigious title of “Best youth orchestra in the
Netherlands” twice.
This year sees the return of Jessica Cottis and Murray
McLachlan to GYO with an exciting program
including Beethoven’s Emperor Piano Concerto and
the Symphony in D Minor by Caesar Franck where
GYO will be joined on stage by the Amersfoort Youth
Orchestra of the Netherlands – an exciting concert not
to be missed! GYO is proud to return to AIYF this year
where it will also perform the National Anthems of all
participating countries at the Welcome Ceremony held
on Sunday, July 27 at Aberdeen’s iconic Music Hall
venue at 3.00pm.
32 .
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
The orchestra is comprised of 65 young musicians, aged
between 14 and 24. Most of those who play in AYO
are high school or university students, with some studying
their craft at conservatories. Amersfoort Youth Orchestra
usually performs bold classical pieces. However they are
no strangers to taking a few risks and trying something
new as they will be doing with two collaborations
during AIYF 2014, and also shown in 2012 when
the orchestra took part in the world’s biggest scavenger
hunt by arranging and performing Kansas’ Carry on
My Wayward Son for an orchestra in three days.
USA
CHINA
ISO SYMPHONY OF THE
INTERSCHOOL ORCHESTRAS
OF NEW YORK
BEIJING 57 HIGH SCHOOL
JINFAN MARCHING BAND
The InterSchool Orchestras of New York (ISO) creates
opportunities for school-aged children in New York
City to make music together through a family of
ensembles. These include seven orchestras and a
band that provide progressively graded experiences
for students at beginning through to advanced levels.
Instrumental coaches take part in all rehearsals and
concerts, playing alongside their students offering
assistance and encouragement in all ensembles except
the ISO Symphony. ISO’s musicians share the music
they make with the community in 20 concerts annually
to more than 7,200 people, including 1,500 public
school children at assembly programs in their schools.
More than half of ISO’s students receive scholarships or
financial aid, ensuring that family income is never an
impediment to participation.
The ISO Symphony is ISO’s top ensemble. Its
alumni include musicians holding principal chairs in
professional orchestras in New York, Philadelphia,
Chicago, St. Louis, and other cities. It has undertaken
international tours to Spain and Venezuela, and this is
its first visit to the Aberdeen International Youth Festival.
Beijing 57 High School Jinfan Marching Band was
established in 2000. It has participated in many
events, festivals and exchanges including performances
at the World University Games opening ceremony,
Guangzhou International Festival Opening and
Closing Ceremony performance, and as part of the
International Association of Athletics Federations
(IAAF) World Youth Championship and Beijing 2008
Olympic Games Tianjin division Cultural programmes.
This school band actively participates in international
exchange activities. In recent years, the Band has
collaborated with the Australia High School Band,
the Dutch Youth Wind Band, the Washington Lake
Braddock Youth Symphony Orchestra, United States
Marine Corps Band in the Pacific region and other
advanced teams.
In 2012, the band won the first Prize in Marching
Orchestral Music Performance of Beijing at the
15th Student Festival, and won the Orchestral Music
Golden Award, Overseas Marching and many other
national accolades.
Jeffrey Grogan, ISO’s Artistic Director, has led the ISO
Symphony since the 2010/2011 season.
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
. 33
THEATRE
SCOTLAND
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
ABERDEEN PERFORMING ARTS
YOUTH THEATRE
BURAYDAH THEATRE GROUP
The Aberdeen Performing Arts (APA) Youth Theatres are
part of the company’s Creative Learning portfolio of
education and creative talent development projects. APA
youth theatres offer participants a high quality experience
in a supportive environment whilst developing their skills
and confidence in theatre and performance and also
assisting them to explore their creativity.
For AIYF 2014 they will be bringing two projects
including working on a new and challenging play called
‘Independence’ commissioned from a Scottish playwright
and developed and performed in collaboration with the
American Conservatory Theatre from San Francisco.
The second project will be their response to the National
Theatre of Scotland’s Tin Forest initiative involving
companies from across the Commonwealth. The results
of the devised show will be seen as part of a double bill
with Hotel Echo Theatre Company.
34 .
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
Buraydah Theatre Group was founded in Al-Qassim
(Saudi Arabia) in 2007. The group has produced more
than over a dozen productions in a variety of genres
including work for young people, main theatre plays,
experimental and movement based shows. As well as
performing across Saudi Arabia, the company has also
participated in many international theatre festivals in
Tunisia, Jordan, Morocco, Cairo and Ukraine and has
won numerous awards. For their first visit to AIYF, the
Buraydah Theatre Group is bringing a cast of two to
perform “A play of a Window”.
USA
AMERICAN CONSERVATORY
THEATER
Established in 1965, American Conservatory
Theater (ACT) is the largest theatre company in the
San Francisco Bay Area, offering both classical and
contemporary theatre productions and employing more
than 800 people each season. During the past four
decades more than 300 ACT productions have been
seen by nearly 7 million theatre goers in the company's
Beaux Arts-style theatre located in the heart of San
Francisco’s theatre district. Central to ACT’s vision is
the philosophy of lifelong education. ACT is committed
to nurturing artists from diverse backgrounds and to
embracing the challenging dynamics of training and
performance that lie at the heart of the institution.
MEXICO
UK
LA CAMOTERA TEATRO
YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE (YMT) UK
La Camotera Teatro is a young theatre group
from Monterrey in Mexico, directed by Antonio
Craviotto who has more than 10 years of experience
participating in various festivals in Mexico and abroad.
For their first visit to AIYF and to Scotland, the company
will be presenting a play without words called ‘The
Station’ performed by two talented actors. ‘The Station’
follows many of the themes promoted by the company
including the relationships between generations,
the rights of the poor and less fortunate in society.
Youth Music Theatre (YMT) UK, known as YMT, is the
UK’s leading music theatre company for young people.
Supported by Arts Council England and the Department
of Education, they deliver a wide range of opportunities
including performance, writing, skills workshops and
special projects across the whole country. The link with
ENGLAND
HOTEL ECHO THEATRE
Hotel Echo is a new company formed as part of the
Bristol Old Vic’s ‘Made in Bristol’ training scheme,
where students have come together to train as theatremakers, performers and workshop facilitators and to
create inventive, energetic and high quality work. Hotel
Echo has come from the fourth year of the project with
Bristol Old Vic following a tradition of new theatre
companies from the initiative. They are a diverse and
eclectic group of young theatre-makers who specialise
in narrative-driven ensemble work, new writing,
devising and adapting text and employing physical
theatre and live music. The show “Wild Men” will be
premiered at Bristol Old Vic before being performed at
the Tin Forest project produced by the National Theatre
of Scotland as part of the Culture 2014 programme
and then AIYF.
AIYF is now into its eighth year and once again the
company will develop a new piece of music theatre from
scratch while providing an experience of the highest
quality training and development for the young actors,
singers, musicians, dancers and technical team.
While promoting the creativity of the individual at the
heart of their work, the company continues to bring
at least eight brand new productions to life each
year, working with many of the best professional
theatre practitioners from the West End, repertory and
community theatre working with hundreds of young
people each year developing confidence, self-esteem,
teamwork, communication and performance skills.
SCOTLAND
MITCHELL SCHOOL OF DRAMA
(MSD)
The Rhona Mitchell School of Drama was set up originally
in Inverurie in 1983, and then operating as MSD in
the West End of Glasgow in 1988, where it ran very
successfully until Rhona’s return to Aberdeenshire in
1998. The school aims to cultivate an interest in theatre
and drama by providing classes for a wide range of
abilities and the opportunity to participate in a variety of
stage productions. Many of MSD’s former students have
gone on to study drama full-time and many are working
professionally as actors, directors and in television.
MSD has been a regular contributor to AIYF since 2006
when they performed their production of ‘Twelfth Night’.
Since then they have delighted audiences with such
productions as ‘Doorways’, ‘Lottie’ and ‘Our Scotland’.
MSD frequently performs at a variety of festivals and
shows across Scotland.
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
. 35
WORLD
MUSIC
ENGLAND
SCOTLAND
WATCHTONE
FÈIS ROIS NATIONAL
CEILIDH TRAIL
Watchtone are a fresh and exciting Newcastlebased band that infuses contemporary Scottish
tunes with complex underlying tones and rhythms.
Dazzling audiences with their own compositions and
arrangements, Chris Meredith (fiddle), Kev Lees (fiddle),
Laura Bell (sax) and Graeme Armstrong (guitar) make
up this innovative quartet.
Chris Meredith is a Scottish fiddle player and guitarist
just back from his second tour in Norway with NE3Folk.
Hailing from the historic border town of Jedburgh,
Graeme Armstrong developed his style of playing,
amongst many of the great players based in the heart
of the Scottish culture and traditional music scene
in Glasgow.
Kevin Lees has been playing the fiddle now for over 15
years, having been brought up on the vibrant youth folk
music scene in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Laura Bell, sax player, brings graceful and delicate sax
style that provides a progressive and complex dimension
to the group.
36 .
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
Fèis Rois is committed to supporting young people to
continue performing, learning and developing their
skills in traditional music when they leave school.
The Ceilidh Trail is a fantastic summer job for any
young musician! This is an opportunity for outstanding
young musicians aged 16 to 25 to develop their
performance skills and learn what it is like to be a
touring musician.
The National Fèis Rois Ceilidh Trail allows locals and
visitors alike the opportunity to hear top quality traditional
music across Ross-Shire throughout the summer.
The National Fèis Rois Ceilidh Trail project ran for the first
time as part of the Year of Creative Scotland in 2012 and
was further developed during the Year of Natural Scotland
in 2013. This year the project will run across Scotland
again from July 14 to August 23 2014.
SCOTLAND
SCOTLAND, NORWAY AND FINLAND
NORTH EAST FOLK COLLECTIVE
THE NORTHERN EXCHANGE
This Aberdeen City and Shire based group was formed
by local fiddler Sharon Hassan in 2009 to encourage
young people to play the traditional music and songs
of the North-east.
This project builds on a partnership forged with
Edinburgh Gaitherin’ and UKM Arctic (Norway).
Now, the North East Folk Collective is the advanced
performing group associated with Gadie Music
It plays traditional music both from the North East of
Scotland and other places around the world. There is
a strong element of composition within the group, and
many group members write their own tunes that make
up part of the group’s repertoire.
North East Folk Collective is a voluntary initiative where
all tutoring is done with a desire to pass on skills and
knowledge to a younger generation of musicians.
They then can make it their own and pass it on to
subsequent generations.
Since it began in 2009 the North East Folk Collective
has performed at a number of festivals, venues and
events throughout Scotland and Ireland, including
Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Stonehaven Folk Festival, the
North Atlantic Fiddle Convention in Derry 2012, Arts
and Bushiness and Traditional Arts Awards in 2013.
Each year in Finnsnes (Norway) UKM Arctic
holds an international youth traditional arts festival.
The organisation works with young people aged
13 to 20 across the Barents region (Russia, Finland,
Sweden and Norway) and this project brings the
work to Scotland, via AIYF for the first time in 2014.
After a successful first collaboration workshop between
six Scottish and other Barents region musicians in
Norway, this project has brought together 12 of these
young Scottish, Norwegian and Russian players for a
mentored 10 days of activity, led by multi-instrumentalist
Mike Vass as part of AIYF.
This project creates a cross-cultural band along with
some smaller ensembles that integrate the various
musical styles and compositions into a shared and
blended repertoire.
The Northern Lights Project Group will perform shows
at many venues during the festival including the
International School and a variety of venues during the
‘extended festival’ programme.
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UP CLOSE
AND MUSICAL
SCOTLAND
ABERDEEN MUSIC FESTIVAL PERFORMERS
The Aberdeen and North East Music Festival is an exciting and lively event that provides competitions and performances
for a considerable number of local musicians in fields that vary from piano via Scottish instrumental to brass and
woodwind. Its events not only encompass all aspects of music but also delve into the field of speech and drama.
Some of the winners and runners up from the 2014 festival will perform at AIYF this year.
UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN OGSTON MUSIC PRIZE
AIYF will once again be linking up and presenting some of the finalists and winner of the prestigious Ogston prize
as part of the Up Close and Musical series. This annual competition held in May each year has seen winners
from across many musical instruments including saxophone, piano, flute and voice. The event sees many of the
most experienced and talented musicians from across the whole student population compete for the prize money
and coveted title. Previous winners have been Kerr Slaven, Kay Ritchie and Anna Lawrence (Soprano) some of
whom are still very much part of the AIYF programme when available. Please see the AIYF website for updated
information on who will be part of this year’s concert.
SILVERBIRCH DUO
Carina Gascoine (Flute), Ross Wilson (Guitar)
The Silverbirch Duo are Carina Gascoine (flute) and Ross Wilson (guitar), who have been playing together since the
beginning of 2012. They met while both studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and since then began working
together in various venues around Glasgow and are regular features at the Conservatoire’s departmental concerts.
Ross studies classical guitar under Allan Neave at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and has recently been
offered a place to study a Masters at the RCS. He is a previous winner of the North East Guitar Society Junior
Award and played with the National Youth Guitar Ensemble. For the past two years Ross has been a guest
performer at Ullapool Guitar Festival and in May 2013 gave a recital in Aberdeen organised by the North East
Guitar Society.
Carina is currently in her fourth and final year at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, studying the Flute with Ruth
Morley and Sheena Gordon. In addition she is studying baroque flute with Alison McGilvery and Lis Dooner.
Carina grew up in Essex and before moving to Glasgow she was in the National Youth Orchestra, where they
toured to various UK venues culminating in the Promenade concert at the Royal Albert Hall. In 2010 she won
Havering Musician of the Year. With the charity Flutewise, she travelled to Bermuda and performed with
Sir James and Lady Galway as part of a flute quartet.
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ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
LAURA AYOUB
A regular and very popular performer at AIYF, violinist Laura Ayoub has just completed her first undergraduate year at the
Royal College of Music, London, where she studies violin with Jan Repko and piano with Kathron Sturrok.
Prior to studying at the Royal College of Music, Laura achieved grade 8 with distinction on violin at the age of 13 under
the tuition of Andrea Gajic at the Music School of Douglas Academy. She was later appointed the leader of the West of
Scotland Symphony Schools Orchestra for two years and was also a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great
Britain. She has also received a masterclass from Nicola Benedetti.
Some of Laura’s highlights include the Lark Ascending with members from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the
Bruch Violin Concerto with the West of Scotland Symphony Schools Orchestra in the prestigious City Halls of Glasgow,
conducted by James Lowe. Laura has also performed solo recitals in Glasgow, Aberdeen, London and Lithuania.
Laura’s programme will include Beethoven Violin Sonata No 1 op 12 and Dvorak - Kreisler Slavonic Dance No 2 and
will be accompanied at AIYF by Christopher Baxter.
NORTH-EAST OF SCOTLAND MUSIC SCHOOL PERFORMERS (NESMS)
Located in Aberdeen, the North-East of Scotland Music School (NESMS) is the UK’s most northerly centre of advanced
music tuition. Founded in 1975 by Dorothy Hately, the school provides an opportunity for talented individuals of all
ages to gain access to teaching of the highest calibre.
Some of this year’s festival performers include:
Sanjay Vijayan (recorder/oboe)
Sanjay, 15, is a pupil of Robert Gordons College and
plays the recorder and the oboe. He has been playing
the recorder for five years and receives lessons from
Rosalind Coleman. Sanjay has been playing the oboe for
four years and has weekly lessons from Hannah Hilton.
In addition to his weekly lessons, Sanjay receives lessons
from NESMS tutors, Ian Wilson and Joe Houghton. He
has completed ABRSM grade 7 for recorder and oboe
in June 2014 and is now working towards grade 8 for
both. Sanjay plays the oboe in RGC’s Senior Concert
Band and is also a member of the school’s Recorder
Group. Music has been an important part of Sanjay’s life
and he would like to continue playing it for life.
Ian Leahy (cello)
Ian, 15, is a pupil at Aboyne Academy where he
recently won the School’s Young Musician of the Year
Competition. Since primary school Ian has received cello
lessons at The North East of Scotland Music School with
James Halsey. For a number of years Ian has participated
in the Aboyne Cello Festival run by James Halsey; during
these weeks Ian has also been tutored by internationally
renowned cellists Alice Neary and Philip Higham. Ian
is a member of the Aberdeenshire Music Centre’s Youth
Orchestra along with various school music groups.
Besides the cello Ian’s other passion is the bagpipes and
during the summer he can be found competing at the
various Highland Games across Aberdeenshire.
Richard Bailey (piano)
Richard Bailey graduated from the University of Aberdeen in
2010 before pursuing postgraduate studies at Birmingham
Conservatoire, where he was awarded a scholarship to
study piano performance under Prof. Malcolm Wilson. He
has accompanied prizewinners in national competitions in
Edinburgh and London and has performed in masterclasses
for Peter Donohoe, Martin Jones and Mikhail Kazakevich.
Cheryl Bell (oboe)
Cheryl is working towards a PhD in Health Psychology
at the University of Aberdeen. Enjoying music as an
extracurricular pastime, Cheryl plays in a number of
ensembles in and around Aberdeen. She is a current
NESMS scholar, receiving tuition from oboist Joe Houghton.
Kay Ritchie (flute)
Kay works as a postdoctoral researcher at the University
of Aberdeen and won the University’s Ogston Music
Prize in 2009. Kay plays in many local ensembles,
and frequently gives solo recitals. She was awarded
the NESMS Dorothy Hately Scholarship in 2007 and
2009, and was the first recipient of the David Nicholson
memorial scholarship in 2010 and 2011.
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THE NORTH EAST HARP ENSEMBLE
The North East Harp Ensemble is a group of harpists from Aberdeen and the surrounding area. The group was set
up by Christine Edwards in 2013 to give harpists of all ages and abilities a chance to expand their repertoire and
share their music with the wider community.
Christine Edwards is an experienced performer, composer and dedicated harp teacher. She is music advisor to
the North East Branch of the Clarsach Society, and teaches both within Aberdeenshire and worldwide using video
conferencing software, attempting to make learning the harp accessible to all.
Christine is a talented harpist and dedicated music teacher. Originally from Aberdeenshire, she is an experienced
professional performer. Having received training at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly the Royal
Scottish Academy of Music and Drama), University of Glasgow, Royal Irish Academy of Music and Trinity College
Dublin, she is exceptionally talented at both the concert harp (pedal harp) and clarsach (lever harp). As well as
specialising in Scottish Music, she has recently attained a Licentiate of the London College of Music Diploma
(LLCM) in Irish Traditional Music Performance on the Irish Harp.
ENGLAND
NICHOLAS HARRIS
Nicholas Harris was born in Santa Cruz, California in 1989, where at the age of seven began piano studies
with Mariko Kan, who had been a student of the harpsichordist Isolde Ahlgrimm. He studied at the San Francisco
Conservatory of Music followed by time as part of the Young Talent Program at the Amsterdam Conservatory and
then at the Yehudi Menuhin School in London. Since 2010, he has been a student of Andrew Ball at the Royal
College of Music in London. As a chamber musician Nicholas has played with the Engadin Quartet and violinist
Amarins Wierdsma in Holland, the London Mozart Players as part of the annual Wigmore Hall concert series given
by the Yehudi Menuhin School, and has also performed in such venues as the Menuhin Hall and Cadogan Hall.
He is a recipient of a Royal College of Music George Stennett Award, as well as the English Speaking Union’s
2014 Scholarship to the International Musicians’ Seminar, Prussia Cove and will be the soloist with the Amersfoort
Youth Orchestra on their AIYF tour.
OXFORD YOUNG LIEDER PERFORMERS
The Oxford Young Lieder Award is given to two or three outstanding duos each year. In order to qualify for the
award each artist must be enrolled on a post-graduate course at a leading UK conservatoire, demonstrate a
superior level of musicianship, and have outstanding performance skills.
Kangmin Justin Kim – Counter Tenor
Kangmin is a Korean-American countertenor from Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is a graduate of Northwestern
University in Evanston, IL, USA, with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance and the Musical Theatre
Certificate, receiving both academic (cum laude) and departmental honors upon graduation. He has recently
completed his postgraduate studies, receiving a Master of Music degree (Concert Project) at the Royal Academy of
Music, London, studying with Nicholas Clapton and Ian Partridge.
In the 2011/2012 season, Kim was named the winner of Michael Head Song Prize and a finalist for the prestigious Richard
Lewis Award at RAM. He was the winner of the 2012 Stuart Burrows International Voice Award held in Carmarthen, Wales.
40 .
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
This season, Kim and his duo partner, Sachika Taniyama, collaborated to compete in Oxford Lieder Young Artist
Platform (Winner) and National Mozart Competition in UK (Semi-finalist). In March, Kim was seen as Knusperhexe
in Hänsel und Gretel at the Royal Academy of Music, conducted by Gareth Hancock and directed by Daisy Evans
Sachika Taniyama – Piano
Born in Toyota City, Japan, Sachika grew up in Birmingham, UK. She has performed internationally; her global
appearances range from places such as Belgium, Turkey and Japan. Sachika has performed in major concert
venues such as the Royal Festival Hall and the Purcell Room and has performed in numerous international music
festivals such as the Aberystwyth Musicfest, Gümüslük International Classical Music Festival, The Edinburgh Fringe
Festival, Aberdeen International Youth Festival, and many more.
Sachika was awarded both an Undergraduate degree and a Master’s degree in Solo Piano from the Guildhall
School of Music and Drama and was taught by Charles Owen. She currently studies Piano Accompaniment with
Michael Dussek at the Royal Academy of Music.
Sachika was recently selected as the Oxford Lieder Young Artist 2013 with Kangmin Justin Kim
(countertenor). Being hugely interested in collaborative work, Sachika has recently worked with
the Donmar Warehouse, coaching actors on piano playing and recording music for their productions.
RUSSIA
ELIZABETH GORCHAKOVA AND KARPENKO MILA
This visit continues AIYF’s successful partnership with the St. Petersburgh Forum, based in Scotland, who support
a number of educational initiatives in schools across that Russian city. These two young singers attend School 46
which regularly produces local award winning performers and both girls are no exception.
They bring a repertoire of songs that ranges from traditional Russian to the West End, London and occasional some
Burns as well and sing as soloists and a duo. This is the first time either will have travelled to the UK but they plan to
make to the first of many.
SCOTLAND/ KENYA / INDIA
THE SCOKENDIA ENSEMBLE
The Scokendia Ensemble will bring young instrumentalists and composers from Scotland, Kenya and India together
as part of Glasgow 2014’s Cultural Programme to connect, collaborate and perform. AIYF is delighted to link with
Cultural Commonwealth 2014 Programme by welcoming this ensemble to Aberdeen.
Though vastly different, these countries all share key common musical threads around using music as a tool for social
change, investing in youth orchestras and encouraging and celebrating both their traditional and classical traditions.
The project, led by musician Jamie Munn, will include a mixture of players from across the three nations. Some will have started
on a professional career, some will be from national orchestras or conservatoires and some from outreach projects. Though all
proficient in orchestral music, some will also be adept in traditional instruments. The new commissions, one from each country,
will both capture their respective country’s musical traditions and heritage and also reflect the vitality of the Commonwealth’s
young people. Project partners include: National Youth Orchestras of Scotland; Kenya National Youth Orchestra; India
National Youth Orchestra; Mehli Mehta Music Foundation; Global Music Institute New Delhi; Kenya Conservatoire of Music;
Live Music Now Scotland; Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; Ghetto Classics – The Art of Music, Kenya.
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SUMMER COURSES
CEÒL MÒR
CHAMBER MUSIC PROJECT
JULY 25 – AUGUST 1
JULY 28 – JULY 31
Ceòl Mòr is an established summer school offering young
traditional musicians, aged 16 to 25, the opportunity to
learn and develop a performance practice of the new
genre-crossing music that is being written in Scotland just
now. Created in 2006, Ceòl Mòr aims to produce each
year, an outstanding band of young musicians exploring
and performing a contemporary Scottish music inspired
and informed by Scotland’s musical traditions.
AIYF’s Chamber Music Performance Course, led by
Hebrides Ensemble and its Artistic Director William
Conway, gives talented young chamber musicians the
opportunity to develop their musical skills alongside some
of the very best musicians in the UK.
Over the years, this band has built relationships with
a number of contemporary Scottish songwriters and
composers, and has commissioned a range of new
music for big band. Previous collaborators have included
Colin Steele, Corrina Hewat and David Milligan
(Unusual Suspects), Aidan O’Rourke (Lau), Innes Watson
(Treacherous Orchestra) and Karine Polwart as well as
previous and present members of the band.
2014 will see the band look back and look forward in
equal measure taking some of the classic Ceòl Mòr back
catalogue and giving it a make-over under the guidance
of their new Musical Director, Hamish Napier. Hamish will
be taking a new look at this material, selecting four or five
of the pieces to rehearse with the band and making the
material ready for recording (financial support permitting)
as well as a major performance at Aberdeen’s Lemon
Tree. This 2014 Ceòl Mòr project will allow AIYF and the
band to not only have a record of this wonderful music but
also enable it to be shared so other bands and musicians
can get access to it.
The band is open to young musicians aged between 16
and 25 on any instrument including brass and woodwind.
You should play to the equivalent of Grade 5 minimum,
have good sight-reading and also be comfortable with
learning by ear.
Sponsored by
42 .
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
You can apply either as an individual, or as an ensemble
and the course includes a programme of tutored sessions
with William Conway and members of Hebrides
Ensemble as well as the opportunity to play chamber
music informally with members of Hebrides Ensemble
and fellow participants. The course finishes with a public
performance as part of the AIYF “Up Close and Musical”
series, which will also feature Hebrides Ensemble.
Though applications should be from individuals and
chamber groups who have reached Grade 8 and
above, you do not have to be considering a career in
music to gain a place on the project. Hebrides Ensemble
is Scotland’s foremost contemporary music group,
specialising in new, twentieth and twenty-first century
chamber music, music theatre and chamber opera.
The Ensemble tours frequently to venues and festivals
throughout the UK and Europe, and broadcasts regularly
on BBC Radio 3.
This year the project has been joined by Enterprise Music
Scotland whose role is to promote and develop Chamber
music across the country and we are delighted to have
them as part of the project.
THE DANCE LAB
SPLORE
JULY 25 – AUGUST 1
JULY 28 – AUGUST 1
The AIYF Dance Lab is where talented young dancers
develop their skills and repertoire. Applications are
open to dancers from across the UK and the project
offers 10 days of intensive dance education from
leading national and international choreographers.
This year, dancers will work with one of Italy’s most
sought after choreographers, Roberto Lori. They will
undertake a range of dance masterclass and create
a brand new piece to be showcased at the AIYF
International Dance Gala on Thursday July 31 at His
Majesty’s Theatre. Participants will be part of the Dance
Lab company that will feature some young Italian
dancers, a truly international project.
The Splore school has been running for over 10 years
and is a wonderful opportunity to meet and play with
other young traditional musicians, learn from experienced
musicians and get a chance to perform and explore
traditional music. Many of the past participants can be
seen and heard across the professional music scene,
including some of the past winners of the BBC Young
Traditional Musician of the Year.
OPERA AND SINGING: MARY GARDEN YOUNG
SINGER’S RESIDENCY
JULY 26 – AUGUST 1
AIYF is once again delighted to be teaming up with the
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCoS) to produce the
highly acclaimed Opera Residency project. This partnership
and residency has, over the past six years, become one
of the most important parts of the summer course and
performance programme. The Mary Garden Young Singers’
residency is an initiative supported by Aberdeen City
Council’s Mary Garden Fund, enabling young singers aged
14 to 24, who have the desire and talent, to get involved in
an intense week of workshops and performances.
This year, the programme runs from Friday July 26 until
Friday August 1, 2014. Singers will get a chance to work
with the leading Stage and Musical Directors from the
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in preparing a programme
of opera scenes for an exclusive public performance as
part of the festival on Thursday July 31 at Elphinstone Hall,
University of Aberdeen. Over the week, singers will also
take part in opera scenes with students from the Royal
Conservatoire of Scotland, acting workshops with director
Mark Hathaway, and group music coaching with Head of
Opera, Tim Dean, giving them an insight into what it takes
to make it in the industry. Application for this residency
closed on Friday May 23, 2014.
Participants attending this year’s Splore will enjoy a full
five-day programme of events led by one of Scotland’s most
accomplished trad musicians Gillian Frame who has moved
from AIYF participant to tutor over the past few years. She
will be supported by AIYF Traditional Music Director, Dave
Francis, as well as guest tutors challenging the participants
to learn, rehearse, and explore a wide range of traditional
music over an intense week of activity. Splore finishes with
an ensemble sharing performance and is open to musicians
aged 12 to 16 who are able to play at a level of grade 2
or more in their main instrument. Any instrument is welcome!
YOUNG SC&T
JULY 28 – AUGUST 1
Now in its third year, Young SC&T is proving to be an
ideal platform for young traditional musicians to learn,
explore and develop their knowledge and playing as
part of the AIYF traditional music project that includes
the Splore and Ceòl Mòr initiatives.
This year, Young SC&T offers children aged 8 to11
the exciting opportunity to be engaged in a weeklong series of intense classes to help them extend
their repertoires in Scottish Traditional Musical. Young
musicians will have the chance to learn from talented
traditional music tutors, including North-east multiinstrumentalist, Sharon Hassan and Aberdeenshire
guitarist, singer and drummer, Caroline Roche. To
qualify, young people should be able to play some
simple tunes on an instrument.
Sponsored by McGregor Consultants
For information on applying for any of the summer courses please go to: www.aiyf.org/Summer-Courses
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com www.aiyf.org
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JOIN US – WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT
AIYF has always had a huge amount of support from friends of the festival, individuals, small- to medium-sized
businesses and large multi-national corporations. It has taken many years to establish and build on relationships
that we have with sponsors, partners and individuals and we are keen to continue to grow these links into our
community by offering everyone an opportunity to share in the wonderful opportunities that AIYF brings to Aberdeen
and the surrounding areas.
To do this we need YOUR help to help continue AIYF as “Scotland’s Platform for Youth Arts”, and one of the leading
events held anywhere in the world promoting young people and youth arts. This help can come in many different forms.
SPONSORSHIP
Our distinctive cultural offering that combines the nurturing
of emerging local, national and international talent with
As a *Festival Star* donor you will be recognised on our website
and in our printed brochure, unless you wish to remain anonymous.
You can become a *Festival Star* for as little as £100 with a
education, performance and social interaction means we are in
Diamond Star donation rising to £1,500.
a strong position to offer exciting sponsorship and partnership
For details relating to *Festival Star* opportunities please contact
packages, which will help to deliver any organisation’s
objectives in a unique way.
For more information on sponsorship please contact us at the
festival office. Details are at the bottom of the page.
FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL
Our ‘Friends of the Festival’ are as old as we are! That means
that this organisation has been providing support to AIYF
for well over 40 years! As an independent membership
organisation that provides valuable support to AIYF projects,
events, fundraising and performances there are many benefits to
signing up to a ‘friends’ membership. Priority booking, discounts
and exclusive updates, as well as the knowledge that you are
supporting one of Aberdeen’s most established cultural events
aimed at young people, means that being a ‘friend’ of the
Festival is never dull!
us at the main festival office contact details listed below and we
will be happy to help.
Diamond Stars: Mr R & Mrs P Finnie / GSS Developments
(ABD) Ltd / Professor E Russell / Mrs L Sim / Mrs R E M Tayler
– Hawkhill House / The Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen
/ Dr H & Mrs J Wilson
Crystal Star: Lessel Rennie
LEGACIES
One way of ensuring the longer term future of AIYF is through
leaving a legacy to the organisation. Information and advice can
be received from any solicitor and if you would like to discuss
this or any support please get in touch with the festival’s Chief
Executive at the contact details below.
CONTACT
BE A FESTIVAL STAR
To find out more about how you can support AIYF please
A few years ago we introduced this scheme that acknowledges
and celebrates individuals and businesses, which have made
Street, Aberdeen AB10 1JR
significant donations to AIYF. Like many of the people who
T: 01224 213 800
donate their time they became our festival stars.
Private donations to AIYF assist many of the international arts
companies to take part in the Festival. Giving to the Festival also
helps us to continuously develop opportunities for young people
based locally, helping them to engage with the arts through
educational projects managed by AIYF.
44 .
contact: Artistic Director & CEO, AIYF, Seventeen, 17 Belmont
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL
E: [email protected]
W: www.aiyf.org
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Aberdeen and North-east Music Festival
Finnies the Jeweller
Arts Centre and Theatre – ACT Aberdeen
Jennie S Memorial Foundation
Aberdeen City Council Events Team
Press & Journal
Aberdeen City Council Creative
Learning Team
North-east of Scotland Music School
Aberdeen City Council Cultural
Strategy Team
Aberdeen Endowments Trust
Aberdeen City Council Twinning Officer
Aberdeen Performing Arts
Bon Accord and St Nicholas Centre
Carmelite Hotels
David and June Gordon Memorial Trust
Evening Express
AIYF is a member of:
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Station House Media Unit (SHMU)
SMart Consultants
St Petersburg Forum
Staff at Seventeen
The Mall, Aberdeen
The Society of Friends of Brechin Cathedral
The Verden Sykes Trust
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