About
About Us
The Shoalhaven Youth Orchestra (SYO) is the leading regional orchestra for young musicians along the South Coast of NSW. Founded in 2000 SYO provides orchestral experiences for primary and secondary students and offers regular concerts for the community.
SYO is proudly supported by the Shoalhaven Arts Board, the Shoalhaven City Council, generous individual donors from within the community and local music educators.
From beginner ensembles to senior orchestra
SYO offers a pipeline for beginner musicians to refine their ensemble and performance skills. This starts in our school programs, junior strings ensemble and helps students to advance into the senior orchestra.
Programs for different ages and abilities
SYO consists of the Junior Strings (SJS) and the Shoalhaven Youth Orchestra (SYO). SYO also offers a series of annual camps and holiday workshops with leading Australian professional musicians.
Our current committee (2020-2021)
President: Haseena Tweddle
Vice President: Jenny Cork
Secretary: Margaret Bowcher
Treasurer: Elizabeth Gillen
Parent Rep: Jacqui Bowen
Community Rep: Benjamin May
Manager: Ryley Gillen
Experiencing so many different instruments and performing as a group on stage each year has inspired our child and created a passion for all things musical.
Our Programs
Orchestra
The Shoalhaven Youth Orchestra is the premier youth orchestral music group in the Shoalhaven. Rehearsing on Tuesday afternoons at the Nowra School of Arts students develop upon their ensemble skills, sight reading abilities and understanding of orchestral repertoire.
Junior Strings
The Shoalhaven Junior Strings is a training ensemble for junior orchestral string players, preparing them for rehearsal and performance with the senior orchestra. Rehearsals are help on Tuesday afternoons at the Nowra School of Arts.
Quartet
The Shoalhaven Youth Orchestra Quartet is made of our principal violinists, violist and cellist. This ensemble may perform regularly and is available for private functions.
School Holiday Programs
The Shoalhaven Youth Orchestra runs programs at different times during school holidays. Keep an eye on our School Holidays website tab, social media platforms and our e-newsletter for information about upcoming holiday activities for music students and concerts for audiences.
School Visits
The Shoalhaven Youth Orchestra visits Shoalhaven schools to showcase both instruments and instrumentalists to the wider Shoalhaven Community.
Instrument Hire
The Shoalhaven Youth Orchestra maintains a full inventory of orchestral instruments available for hire.