Sydney Youth Orchestra

"SYO" redirects here. For the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra, see Saskatoon Youth Orchestra.

"Syo" redirects here. For the town of Syosset, New York, see Syosset, New York.

Sydney Youth Orchestra
Origin	Sydney
Occupation	Youth orchestra
Years active	1973 (1973)–present
Website	syo.com.au

The Sydney Youth Orchestra (SYO) is the main orchestra of the Sydney Youth Orchestras family. The SYO provides orchestral training to musicians between 6–25 years.

Sydney Youth Orchestras consists of eleven different ensembles of varying standards, although all of SYO's programs offer a high level of performance opportunities to those who join. Many of the members of the SYO (the most senior orchestra) have progressed through the various lower level ensembles within the association, although it is not a requirement for entry.

Ensembles

Orchestral Fundamentals Program

• Stage 1, String Orchestras (strings only)
• Stage 2, String Orchestras (strings only)
• Stage 3, String Orchestras (strings only)
• Stage 4, Sinfonia (string, wind, brass and percussion)

Senior Ensembles

• Sydney Youth Orchestra Philharmonic (SYOP) – a symphony orchestra with 75 total instruments. Conducted by Brian Buggy.
• Peter Seymour Orchestra (PSO) – 30 stringed instruments and 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 French horns, optional 2 Trumpets, optional 2 clarinets and optional timpani. Conducted by John Ockwell.
• Symphonic Wind Orchestra (SWO) – 60 players with instruments including flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, horn, trumpet, euphonium, trombone, tuba and percussion). Conducted by James Pensini.
• Western Sydney Youth Orchestra (WSYO) – the newest member of the SYO family. Conducted by James Pensini. For musicians who play an instrument of the traditional symphony orchestra.

Other Ensembles

• TangoOz – Led by Tango specialist Maggie Ferguson, TangoOz was established in 2009 as a Tango Orchestra for learning authentic Argentine tango music.

Alumni

Since 1973, SYO has over 5,500 alumni. Many of them still take musical occupations, with some also taking business and corporate fields, including:

Alumni 1970s

• Adrian Bendt (Violin – 1979–86)
• Brett Berthold (Double Bass – 1874–77 & 1985)
• Angela Bonetti (Viola – 1973–74)
• Antoni Bonetti (Violin – 1973)
• Cameron Brook (Tuba – 1976–78)
• Geoffrey Burgess (Oboe – 1977–81)
• Gillian (Jill) Catlow (Violin – 1973)
• David Cattle (Violin – 1979–82, 1984 & 1987)
• David Clarence (Percussion – 1979–80)
• Kimi Coaldrake (Violin – 1973)
• Anne-Louise Comerford (Viola – 1975)
• Ian Cooper (Violin - 1978-92)
• Heather Cottrell (Violin – 1977–84)
• Deborah de Graaf (Clarinet – 1977–81)
• Catherine Dobbie (Violin – 1977–78)
• Warrick Dobbie (Cello – 1977–78 & 1982–84)
• Geoffrey Dodd (Oboe – 1977)
• Scott Evans (Trombone – 1977)
• Geraldine Evans (Trombone – 1974–77)
• Loreta Fin (Violin – 1977–80)
• Rita Fin (Cello – 1976–77 & 1979)
• Greg Ford (Violin – 1973–74)
• Dimity Hall (Violin – 1974 & 1977–83)
• Jane Hazelwood (Violin & Viola – 1973–76)
• Judy Hellmers (née Molnar) (Violin – 1973–74)
• William Hennessy (Violin – 1975)
• Ivan James (Cello – 1976–77)
• Atul Joshi (French Horn – 1979–82)
• Adrian Keating (Violin – 1976–81 & 1984–85)
• Lesley Larkum (Violin – 1977–83)
• Angela Lindsay (Viola – 1979–86)
• Maria Lindsay (Violin – 1977–86)
• Rodney McDonald (Viola – 1976–81)
• Justine Marsden (Viola – 1979–83)
• Marina Marsden (Violin – 1978–84)
• Nicole Masters (Nee Rosenbaum) (Violin – 1979–82)
• Michael Milton (Viola – 1978–81)
• Nicholas Milton (Violin – 1978–81)
• Peter Morrison (Cello – 1979–85)
• Amanda Murphy (Viola – 1976–81)
• Brian Nixon (Percussion – 1976–77)
• Michael O'Dea (Violin – 1977–81)
• Phillippa Paige (Violin – 1974–76)
• Ron Prussing (Trombone – 1973)
• Steve Reeves (Double Bass – 1974–75)
• Brett Rutherford (Cello – 1975–77)
• Jane Rutter (Flute – 1974–76)
• Karen Segal (Violin – 1979–84)
• Richard Tognetti (Violin – 1979–84)
• Kristen Williams (Violin – 1978–83)
• Michael Williams (Cello – 1978–84)
• Nigel Westlake (Clarinet – 1976–77)
• Steve Williams (Trumpet – 1973–75)
• Richard Williamson (Viola – 1974–75)
• David Worrall (Percussion – 1973–74)
• David Pereira Cello – 1973–75)

Alumni 1980s

• Anneke Altman (Violin – 1988–92)
• Phillip Arkinstall (Clarinet – 1987–94)
• John Armstrong (Oboe – 1984–86)
• Ani Aznavoorian (Cello – 1987–94)
• Matthew Bailey (French Horn & Trumpet- 1983, 1984–85 & 1996–02)
• Melissa Barnard (Cello – 1980–85)
• Andrew Barnes (Bassoon – 1987–92)
• Kristy Beilharz (Violin – 1986–87)
• Jennifer Bell (French Horn – 1987–95)
• Diane Berger (Flute – 1987–90)
• Brigid Bollige (Flute – 1982 & 1984–85)
• Mark Bruwel (Oboe – 1980–81)
• Robert Busan (Clarinet – 1980–85)
• Paul Champion (Clarinet – 1986–89)
• Anthony Chesterman (Oboe – 1985–1987)
• Myee Clohessy (Violin – 1984–87)
• Brad Cohen (Violin – Early 1980s)
• Susan Collins (Violin – 1984)
• Virginia Comerford (Viola – 1983–87)
• Mathhew Coorey (French Horn – 1986–95)
• Phillip Cowdery (Violin – 1984)
• Charlie Coy (Violin – 198, 1999–03 & 2005–09) now Co-Founder & Director, Sketch Evolution Pty Limited
• Lucinda Cran (Bassoon – 1980–81)
• Juliet Curtin (Violin & Viola – 1988 & 1992–97)
• Rosemary Curtin (Viola – 1981–89)
• Adam Darvell (Violin & Viola – 1980–84 & 1986)
• Amber Davis (Violin – 1984–87)
• Tania Davis (Violin – 1983–84 & 1986–87)
• Nick Deutsch (Oboe – 1988–89)
• Grant Dickson (Oboe – 1980–81)
• Sarah Dunn (Violin – 1984–86)
• Madeleine Easton (Violin – 1986–96)
• Rachel Easton (Violin – 1986–95)
• James Eccles (Violin & Viola – 1986–94)
• Douglas Eyre (Bassoon – 1982–83)
• James Fortune (Flute – 1986 & 1988–94)
• Paul Goodchild (Trumpet – 1986)
• [Goodridge] (Violin – 1980–83)
• Anna Hansen (Violin – 1989)
• Ben Harris-Roxas (Cello – 1986–88 & 1990)
• Alex Henry (Double Bass – 1985)
• Kirsty Hilton (Violin – 1984–93)
• Chris Howes (French Horn – 1985–87)
• Luisa Hyams (Violin – 1986–93)
• Andrea Keller (Saxophone – 1987)
• Nadia Kelvin (Violin – 1981–82 & 1984–86)
• Deborah Lander (Viola – 1981)
• Elizabeth Lim (Clarinet – 1986–89)
• Jemima Littlemore (Violin – 1983–93)
• Prem Love (Flute – 1987–2000)
• Scott Marshall (Oboe – 1989 & 1991–93)
• Eszter Mikes-Liu (Cello – 1985–87)
• Rachael Miller (Violin – 1983 & 1987–92)
• Bridget Minatel (Violin – 1992–1999 & 2002)
• Karella Mitchell (Cello – 1983 & 1986–95)
• Ed Morris (Violin – 1987–88, 1999–02 & 2011)
• Simon Murphy (Viola – 1981–84 & 1986–89)
• Nicholas Murphy (Clarinet – 1988 - 1993)
• Guy Noble (Piano – 1984)
• Geoffrey O'Reilly (French Horn – 1987–89)
• Irene Park (Violin – 1986–89)
• Jenifer Penno (Double Bass – 1982–85)
• Andrew Piper (Trumpet – 1988–89)
• Veronique Serrett (Violin – 1983–84 & 1986)
• Kirsten Shlomowitz (née Le Strange) (Violin – 1984–93)
• Phillip South (Percussion – 1984–86 & 1988–90)
• Ronald Spigelman (Trumpet – 1983–86)
• Jane Stacy (Oboe – 1983–85)
• Leanne Sullivan (Violin & Trumpet – 1984–87)
• Scott Taggat (Violin – 1983)
• Andrew Tait (Double Bass – 1984)
• Duncan Tolmie (Oboe – 1981–87)
• Justin Tyler (Violin – 1981–82 & 1984–85)
• Warwick Tyrell (Trombone – 1983–84)
• Andra Uilrichs (Viola – 1981–82 & 1984–85)
• Greg van der Struik (Trombone – 1986–87)
• Anthony Walker (Cello – 1984–85)
• Allan Watson (Percussion – 1985)
• Daniel Weltlinger (Violin – 1986–89, 1991–94 & 1996)
• David Wickham (Cello – 1984–85)
• Lyn Williams (Harp – 1980, 1984 & 1986)
• Asmira Woodward-Page (Violin – 1982–83)
• Karen Yap (Cello – 1989)
• Marianne Yeomans (Violin & Viola – 1989–95)
• Zhenya Yourlo (Violin – 1982–83 & 1986–89)
• Yvonne Zammit (Violin – 1988–89)

Alumni 1990s

• Anna Albert (Violin – 1990–92 &1995–2000)
• William d'Avigdor (Viola – 1996-06)
• Alex Bieri (Trumpet – 1996–2006)
• Lauren Brigden (Viola – 1996–97)
• Elizabeth Chee (Oboe – 1993–98)
• Marcus Coleman (Cello – 1992, 2000–02 & 2005)
• Nicholas Comino (Cello – 1991–99)
• Guy du Blêt (Percussion – 1996–97)
• Robert Campbell (Trumpet – 1990–91 & 1993–95)
• Oliver Downes (Cello – 1996–2002)
• Jacqueline Dossor (Double Bass – 1998–2000)
• Thomas Dundas (Violin – 1998)
• Claire Edwardes (Percussion – 1995–97)
• Christopher Emerson (Violin & Viola – 1990–96)
• Sam Ferguson (Oboe – 1990–2000 & 2002)
• Nicole Forsyth (Viola – 1991–94)
• Alison Frilingos (Cello – 1992–97)
• Danielle Funston (Violin – 1992–93, 1995 & 1998–2002)
• Eyse Glenn (Violin – 1996–2000)
• Phillip Green (Clarinet – 1995–97)
• Lisa Grosman (Violin – 1991–95)
• Neela Hetzal de Fonseka (née de Fonseka) (Viola – 1995–2000)
• Alex Hirst (Tuba – 1998–99)
• Andrew Howes (Violin – 1999–2005 & 2010)
• Hayley Järvi (née Reid) (Flute – 1994-01)
• Adam Jeffrey (Percussion – 1998–2002)
• Jessica Johns (Violin – 1990–93)
• Roslyn Jorgensen (Trombone – 1999)
• Naoko Keatley (née Miyamoto) (Violin – 1991–99)
• Tim Kearney (Violin – 1997)
• Francis Kefford (Viola – 1996–2000)
• Matthew Larsen (Clarinet – 1995–96)
• Emily Long (Violin – 1991–2001)
• Eleasha Mah (Violin – 1990–97)
• Gary McGibbon (Tuba – 1997–98)
• Fiona McNamara (Bassoon – 1990–91)
• Minh Xuan Truong (Cello - 1992-93)

Alumni 2000s

• Ben Adler (Violin – 2001–03)
• Arthur Balkizas (Cello – 2003 & 2006–13)
• Jessica Baribas-Bui (Violin & Viola – 2000–03 & 2005–06)
• Katheryne Barets (Violin & Viola – 2001–09)
• Alexandra Bell (Violin – 2005–12)
• Nicola Bell (Violin & Oboe – 2006 & 2008)
• Mitchell Berick (Clarinet – 2002)
• Olivia Borton (Viola – 2002–03 & 2005–06)
• Julia Brooke (French Horn – 2005 & 2008)
• Chris Cartlidge (Viola – 2007)
• Tom Chawner (Viola – 2007)
• Amy Cohen Violin – 2000–15)
• Anthony Dunstan (French Horn – 2001)
• Tristan Entwhistle (Violin – 2008)
• Michelle Forbes (Oboe – 2003–07)
• Matthew Greco (Violin – 2000–03 & 2005–06)
• Winsome Hall (Cello – 2005–10)
• Bridget Hancock (Violin – 2000–03 & 2005–06)
• Benjamin Hanlon (Double Bass – 2006)
• Jackie Hansen (Bassoon – 2001–06)
• Aurora Henrich (Double Bass – 2009 & 2011)
• Emilia Higgs (Viola & Cello & Double Bass – 2001–03 & 2006–07)
• Laura Jarimba (Violin – 2005–09)
• Alexandra Jones (Cello – 2000–03)
• Huw Jones (Oboe – 2002)
• Hugh Kluger (Double Bass – 2005)
• Daniel Kowalik (Violin – 2006–07)
• Karol Kowalik (Cello – 2007)
• Kate Lawson (Flute – 2002 & 2004)
• Francesco lo Surdo (French Horn – 2000–07)
• Lucy Macourt (Violin – 2008–10)
• Matthew Manchester (Trumpet – 2003–05)
• James Menzies (Double Bass – 2004–05 & 2007)
• Andrew Nissen (Trombone – 2008–09)
• Sandi Oh (Violin – 2002–06)
• Liisa Pallandi (Violin – 2004–05, 2007 & 2010)
• Heath Parkinson (French Horn – 2006)
• Casey Rippon (French Horn – 2001–02)
• Anthony Rossiter (Viola – 2004–06)
• David Rowden (Clarinet – 2000–01)
• Rainer Saville (Trumpet – 2005)
• Adam Szabo (Cello – 2005–07)
• Susan Thatcher (née Scott) (French Horn – 2004)
• Toby Thatcher (Oboe – 2004–10)
• Ben Tjoa (Violin – 2007–14)
• Gabriel van Aalst (Violin – 2001–08)
• Benjamin Ward (Double Bass – 2004 & 2007)
• Claire Whittle (Viola – 2006–12)
• Andie Wittenoom Louw (Cello – 2009–15)
• Danny Zhou (Violin – 2003 & 2005–15)

Alumni 2010s

• Julia Doukakis (Viola – 2013)
• Sandra Ismail (Clarinet – 2012)
• John Keene (Double Bass – 2010–12)
• Owen Mak (Percussion – 2011–14)
• Owen Morris (Trumpet – 2012–14)
• Timothy Murray (Bassoon – 2010–11)
• Jaan Pallandi (Double Bass – 2010–14)
• Kate Proctor (Flute – 2010–12)
• Justin Sun (Bassoon – 2012–14)
• Stephanie Vici (Flute – 2011)
• Gillian Williams (French Horn – 2010–12)
• Elizabeth Woolnough (viola – 2012)

See also

• List of youth orchestras

External links

• Official website