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Introduction

The Manukau Youth Orchestra runs three separate orchestras for young people in Manukau. There are two senior orchestras and one junior orchestra.

Senior Orchestras

The two senior orchestras practise Monday 4:30pm to 6:30pm at Pakuranga College and Tuesday 7pm to 9pm at Kedgley Intermediate in Papatoetoe. The groups rehease the same music and combine for concerts and the annual orchestra camp. Most orchestra members are aged 10 to 20 years and are of a grade 5 to grade 8 standard.

The majority of repetoire comes from the 18th century and early 19th century and includes works by Bach, Handel, Mozart and Beethoven. The orchestra performs the original works rather than arangements.

How to Join

Positions available for the senior orchestra include violin, viola, cello, bass, bassoon, oboe and trumpet. Keen players of a good grade 4 standard are considered. The audition process involves set scales and two prepared pieces, one slow and one fast. Contact Joseph Allan for further details.

Junior Orchestra

The Junior Orchestra is for younger players and reheases at Kedgley Intermediate in Papatoetoe. Members range from 7 to 12 years of age and have been playing for 6 months to 4 years. The group is made up of mainly strings and a small number of wind players.

History

The orchestra was established in 1974 by Eric Craig MBE and the incorporated society was formed two years later in 1976 with the objectives - to establish and maintain a symphony orchestra of young people and to promote and foster music in the community, particularly among young people.

The Orchestra rehearsed and performed both locally and overseas until the early 1980s when the number of members became insufficient to maintain the consistent high level and quality of performance that had been accomplished.

The orchestra remained in recess from the mid 1980s until the begining of 2000 when it was re-established by Joseph Allan. One year later a new group for younger string players was formed called the Manukau Youth Orchestra Junior Strings.

In 2002 the society received major support from the Manukau City Council ensuring a strong future for the orchestra. In 2009 the second senior orchestra was established in Pakuranga and Junior Strings became the Junior Orchestra with the addition of wind players.

Copyright 2009 Joseph Allan