There is a vibrancy of artistic activity in Malta as an ever-growing number of young people are getting involved with an abundant choice of artistic and cultural endeavors. The performing arts are offering young people numerous opportunities for training and performance with the Malta Youth Orchestra (MYO) being the entity of choice for musicians who want to be well-prepared for the professional music world.

The Malta Youth Orchestra made its first public appearance in 2004 and now consists of some of Malta’s most talented and committed young classical musicians. Its aim is to train talented young orchestral musicians and provide them with the opportunity to develop their ambition and aspirations.

Maria Blanco, who is directing the MYO’s Educational Programme, describes the orchestra as being “envisaged as an aspirational milestone for Malta’s young musicians”.

With a new training programme established last season, members of the Malta Youth Orchestra now benefit from weekly coaching sessions with professional MPO musicians. These sessions are aimed to help musicians develop their individual technical and musical skills, encourages them to work in a variety of chamber ensembles, as well as cultivate their orchestral skills.

The MYO is envisaged as an aspirational milestone for Malta’s young musicians

Musicians also have the opportunity to participate in regular masterclasses from visiting professors and work closely with international conductors such as Peter Stark, Kelly Kuo, Robert Hodge and David Watkin.

Highlights from last season included the MYO’s performances in ŻiguŻajg Children’s Festival and Notte Bianca, an informal Christmas concert at Valletta’s main entrance and the Carnival concert at the Manoel Theatre.

The MYO Butterfly project was launched in March, and their season was brought to a resounding close with the Youth for Youth Concert at Pjazza Teatru Rjal. MYO students also had the opportunity to perform in the House of Parliament and showcase the work of 12 individual Chamber Ensembles in a first concert of its kind at RobertSamut Hall.

MYO violinist Nicholas Conrad preparing for the President’s New Year’s Concert in January 2016. Photo: Elisa von Brockdorff

The MYO helps students to prepare for exciting opportunities such as auditions for international summer music orchestras and music colleges in European cities. This summer, eight students participated in the Bisyoc Orchestra, while another three were selected following competitive auditions to form part of the EUYO Campus Orchestra.

Further individual success stories saw horn-player Glen Zammit awarded a place to study at the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, clarinetist Michael Cutajar secured a place at Napier University in Edinburgh, while the young violinist Bernice Sammut Attard was accepted at the Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester.

The MYO is now accepting applications from musicians who would like to audition to join the orchestra for the 2016-2017 season.

Applications need to reach MPO offices by September 19, with auditions being held on September 22 and 23 at Robert Samut Hall, Floriana.

For further information about the audi-tion, including an application form, visit http://maltaorchestra.com/educationoutreach/malta-youth-orchestra or send an e-mail to myo@maltaorchestra.com.