Symphony Hall will be host to 500 young musicians 鈥 and their families and friends 鈥 on Saturday, when the National Children鈥檚 Orchestras celebrate their 35th anniversary.
This amazing enterprise was founded by Vivienne Price to offer talented youngsters between the ages of seven and 14 the opportunity of receiving training from premier tutors and professional musicians, and to give regular public performances. It now consists of five age-banded orchestras, and has been adopted by Classic FM as its 鈥淐hildren鈥檚 Orchestra鈥.
The roster of previous members is impressive, including two winners of the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition: cellist Guy Johnston (2000) and violinist Nicola Benedetti (2004).
Nicola, who appears at Symphony Hall on September 17, describes her time with the National Children鈥檚 Orchestras as 鈥渟uch an influential and informative experience, teaching me the value and importance of collaboration with other musicians as well as gaining an insight into the world of orchestral training.鈥
NCO has also produced at least two renowned conductors, Robin Ticciati (principal conductor of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra) and Daniel Harding, once a trumpeter, and now internationally acclaimed for his work with the baton.
Harding was mentored in Birmingham with the help of the CBSO by Sir Simon Rattle, president of the National Children鈥檚 Orchestras, who praises the organisation.
鈥淪ince its inception, the National Children鈥檚 Orchestras has been making an outstanding contribution to the musical life of the country,鈥 he says, 鈥渆ncouraging excellence amongst our most promising instrumentalists鈥.
The members themselves are full of praise for the National Childrens鈥 Orchestra experience.
Violinist Patrick Bevan, a Leverhulme Scholar benefiting from the Benslow Instrument Loan Scheme, is coming to the end of his time with the NCO.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to miss NCO, the music, and the friendships I鈥檝e made, but I鈥檓 going to really enjoy the whole year. I can鈥檛 wait to play in the 35th anniversary Gala Concert at Symphony Hall.鈥
But NCO featured in perhaps an even more important performance last year, when the young musicians played at a special lunch in London鈥檚 Westminster Hall celebrating the Queen鈥檚 Diamond Jubilee.
The event was televised worldwide, and one NCO member subsequently declared: 鈥淯nless Prince Charles lives to 160 years old, no-one else will experience what we did for at least a century.
鈥淚t really was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I will never forget it for the rest of my life!鈥
And this experience is made available to all talented aspiring young musicians, thanks to NCO鈥檚 access to all programme. Extensive fundraising ensures that no talented child is ever denied a place in NCO for financial reasons, believing that 鈥渢he ability to play is far more important than the ability to pay鈥.
Funds come from membership fees, concert revenue and charitable income, which contributes an important 45 per cent.
The National Children鈥檚 Orchestra 35th anniversary Gala Concert begins at 6pm on Saturday August 31 (Symphony Hall, 0121 780 3333).
