Young musicians in debut concert

The National Youth Orchestra, an offspring of the National Orchestra, will be making its official debut today with a concert in the Grand Council Chamber of the President's Palace, in Valletta at 7.30 p.m.

The concert will be held under the distinguished patronage of the President and Mrs Fenech Adami. The programme will include a selection from Purcell's mask The Fairie Queen, an early Mozart symphony, Haydn's Drum-Roll symphony and Manuel Galea's Sinfonia Pastorale.

The youth orchestra consists of 30 young musicians - the average age is 18 - who have been selected by music director Michael Laus in collaboration with principal musicians from the National Orchestra. Most of the musicians chosen are in fact students of National Orchestra members.

The Youth Orchestra is meant to provide an avenue for young players to have the chance to explore music that they might not otherwise have the opportunity to rehearse and perform and to experience aspects of music making that might otherwise be closed to them, such as participating in concerts with the National Orchestra of Malta.

Rehearsal sessions are held weekly, conducted by Mro Laus. National Orchestra leader Marcelline Agius and other players from the National Orchestra take part in rehearsals as leaders of the various sections and regularly conduct sectional rehearsals.

A small number of the young musicians have already been invited to participate in concerts by the National Orchestra. The ensemble will join forces with the National Orchestra in a concert to be held at the Manoel Theatre in April.