Opening this concert is a rarely heard collossus by Vaughan Williams, Job, subtitled "A Masque for Dancing", a musical description of the sufferings of Job as described in the Old Testament.
We are indeed fortunate to have Graeme Jennings and Yoko Okayasu as soloists in Mozart's glorious Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola. Graeme, an ex Concertmaster of QYS, is now Senior Lecturer at the Queensland Conservatorium and Yoko is the esteemed Principal Viola of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
The concert concludes with the world's favourite tone poem, Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi, one of the finest orchestral colourists of all time. Full of the might and grandeur of ancient Rome, the spine tingling finale will be a fitting end to this concert.
Performers
Queensland Youth Symphony
Conductor John Curro AM MBE
Violin Graeme Jennings
Viola Yoko Okayasu
Concert Program
Vaughan Williams - Job: A Masque for Dancing
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Sinfonia Concertante
Ottorino Respighi - Pines of Rome
Subscriptions for the Queensland Youth Symphony 2012 Concert Series are available now. More Information
The Queensland Youth Symphony (QYS) is widely recognised as a world-class youth orchestra and is the leading ensemble of Queensland Youth Orchestras (QYO). QYS performs an annual concert series at the QPAC and Old Museum Concert Halls, and thrills audiences with music from the baroque to modern periods, with a focus on works from the late 19th and 20th century, and contemporary Australian composers.
Throughout its 45-year history, QYS has toured and performed extensively throughout Australia and internationally in eleven overseas tours (Europe, USA, United Kingdom, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand) to much critical acclaim. Past members of QYS hold positions in all of Australia's major symphony orchestras and orchestras of renown throughout the world. In 2012, QYS members will pack their travel cases again for the orchestra's 12th international tour, with planned concerts in Asia and Europe.
Conductor John Curro AM MBE
John Curro AM MBE is both the founder and Director of Music for Queensland Youth Orchestras, conducting the Queensland Youth Symphony since its beginning in 1966. He is in demand as a conductor and tutor for professional and youth orchestras and festivals.
Last year, Mr Curro conducted Havergal Brian's Symphony No. 1 The Gothic, for the first performance in 30 years and the first performance outside the UK. With QYS, Mr Curro conducted the Resurrection Symphony by Gustav Mahler in 2010 in a remarkable performance with Judith Henley (Soprano), Anne Fulton (Mezzo Soprano), the Queensland Conservatorium Chamber Choir and the Brisbane Chorale.
Mr Curro has conducted many of Australia's professional orchestras as well as many opera and ballet seasons in Australia. His guest conducting appearances include the London Virtuosi, the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, the Australian and Bavarian Youth Orchestra, the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, and Principal Guest Conductor with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.
Throughout his distinguished career, Mr Curro has received many prestigious awards including Member of the Order of Australia and Member of the British Empire. He has received Honorary Doctorates from the University of Queensland and Griffith University, Rotary International's Paul Harris Fellow Award, the Australian Music Centre (Qld) Award, the Don Banks Music Award, the Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award, the Orchestras Australia Lifetime Achievement Award and the Queensland Premier's Millenium Award for Excellence in the Arts.