PYSO latest....December 2011...we are busy!!

Wednesday 7th December - Western Morning News
Look out for our article on page 13!

You may have heard our interview on Radio Cornwall (4.15 p.m. Tuesday 6th December)
Listen Again on BBC iPlayer!  until 13th December;
Scroll forwards to 1:09:40 to catch the start of the article.

Saturday 10th December - Christmas 'Celebration' concert at Zennor Church with Zennor Music Series
You may wish to follow this link to ZMS Cornwall for details...

Look out for our new 'Christmas Music' CD.  Available at our Zennor concert, and also when we are busking in Penzance
on Saturdays 10th and 17th December (weather permitting!)
Or please click on this 'Contact' link to request a CD...price £8, plus p&p.

Two new videos from 21st November 2011 are on our Audio/Video page
 

Penzance Youth String Orchestra was founded in September 2006, and its members are all resident in West Penwith.  PYSO players, who are aged between 11 and 18 years old, have included representatives from all six local secondary schools and colleges, and three schools or colleges in Truro, as well as several local primaries.  Its existence is possible because of the dedication of several local teachers over many years, a great deal of dedication from the 18 young players who meet at least once a week to rehearse under the guidance of Tim Boulton, and the support of Cornwall Learning Music.  The orchestra have won an enthusiastic and loyal following in Penwith, where they perform regularly, as well as giving concerts increasingly further afield.

PYSO rehearse and perform without a conductor, directed by Tim Boulton from the viola position.  It is part of the ethos of the group that the players should develop a wide range of skills, including those that are transferable to many areas of life, such as the ability to listen well, to be adaptable and flexible, to take responsibility and lead, develop excellent organisational skills, and strive to achieve one’s personal best.  Many people have commented on the great discipline of PYSO performances, and this is achieved within an atmosphere of individual expression and joy.  They perform a wide range of music and styles from the last 300 years until the present day.

PYSO have played several charity fundraising concerts amongst it’s many performances.  These have included concerts in aid of; Medical Foundation for the care of victims of torture at Tremenheere Gardens; at Paul Church in aid of the church's Window Restoration Appeal; at St. Mary’s Church Penzance for a church charity supporting young victims of AIDS; at the Pride of Cornwall event at Eden Project in aid of the Cornwall Children’s Hospice.  They have also performed three times at the Golowan Festival in Penzance, at the Penzance Catholic Church, at a reception given by the High Sheriff of Cornwall, and to Nick Clegg and Cornwall Liberal Democrats at their local conference in 2008.  The ensemble have twice been winners of the Youth Orchestra section at Cornwall Music Festival, and in 2009 accompanied the Concerto class and were invited to perform in the Festival Gala Concert.

In July 2011 we attended the MFY National Festival of Music for Youth at City Hall Birmingham.
We were proud recipients of the ‘Federation of Music Services Orchestras Award’ for ‘Amazing original composition by Ben (Comeau) for piano and orchestra, not only a stunning composition but played with such aplomb by both soloist and orchestra.’
This refers to one of the pieces which you can see performed on 21st November 2011 in central London.
In 2010 we won the
Classic FM String and Chamber Orchestras Award
for "innovative pushing of musical boundaries and an excellent performance in its own right".

“I saw the Penzance Youth String Orchestra perform Vivaldi’s ‘Summer’ at the School’s Proms, which I thought was absolutely fantastic. In fact I am not sure I will ever be able to listen to the four seasons without remembering it with a smile on my face!  The members of the Penzance Youth String Orchestra should be incredibly proud of their performance. Bravo!” 

Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, November 2010.

For photographs of the event please follow this link to our Photos page...

  See Music for Youth information here...