is a unique cultural exchange project, the collaboration between 2 outstanding youth orchestras led by high profile individuals: the YTO (Young Talent Orchestra) of the Rotterdam Conservatory (Codarts) / Hellendaal Music Institute with their Chief conductor, the internationally acclaimed violist Mikhail Zemtsov, and the Gnessin Virtuosi Orchestra from Moscow, with Mikhail Khokhlov as their founding mentor for almost 30 years. Young Dutch and Russian talents (aged 13-18) will join each other on stage to give 3 performances in August, including a concert at the famous Grachtenfestival in Amsterdam.
The Project
The idea of bringing together Dutch and Russian young musicians in one orchestra was developed jointly with the program director of the Grachtenfestival Lestari Scholtes, aiming to help the young talents grow professionally and gain new engagements with the audiences. This exceptional experience will shape their international careers in the future, creating lasting relationships and forming a greater understanding through the universal language of music.
The YTO (Young Talent Orchestra) was founded in 2014 as an initiative of Codarts Rotterdam and Muziekinstituut Hellendaal with the goal to introduce young talented musicians aged 13 to 18 years into orchestra repertoire and practices. The YTO gives about 10 concerts per year, including the one in De Doelen at the Gergiev Festival 2019. In 2017 the YTO won the first prize at the European Music Festival for Youth in Neerpelt (Belgium) and in 2018 – both the Second prize and the Audiences prize at the Dutch National Competition for Youth Symphony Orchestras.
The Gnessin Virtuosi Orchestra dates back to 1990 and Mikhail Khokhlov was instrumental to its creation. As the Director of the Gnessin Special School of Music, he put together the best students and formed a unique ensemble of independent musical personalities. The Moscow Gnessin Special School of Music is an institution with international fame. Among its graduates are many great musicians, such as Alexander Knyazev, Evgeny Kissin, Daniil Trifonov, Boris Berezovsky, Alexey Ogrintchuk, and others. Gnessin Virtuosi is one of the leading youth orchestras in Russia, the winner of many international prizes all over the world.
The Concerts
Date |
Location |
Tickets |
---|---|---|
Friday, 14 August |
Geertekerk in Utrecht (Geertekerkhof 23) |
Coming soon |
Saturday, 15 August |
Grachtenfestival in Amsterdam (tbc) |
Coming soon |
Sunday, 16 August |
Grote Kerk in Apeldoorn (Loolaan 16) |
Coming soon |