Read our website and you will be amazed and possibly shocked to discover that 93 teenagers can rehearse intensely for 8 hours a day on a week long course. Further shocking statistics include the fact that these teenagers are interested in watching a DVD of the Berlin Philharmonic performing Mahler Symphony No. 1 (after rehearsing it for over 8 hours that day). They are quite simply the most awesome group of teenagers. Despite their commitment and dedication to music, they are also infectiously fun! You can’t be around them and not smile! Come to their concerts and they will literally blow you away
BUT this blog is all about showing you the other side of NYOI…
Like the students of Hogwarts in Harry Potter, NYOI were sorted into teams at the beginning of the 2011 summer course. While the famous Hogwarts artefact, “the sorting hat”, magically determines which house each student belongs to in Harry Potter, a person’s choice of instrument has determined which team they belong to. Often, instrument choice reflects a person’s personality… but we’ll delve into that a little later in our Guide to the Orchestra.
For now all you need to know is that the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland has seven teams competitively vying for “house points”: 1st violins, 2nd violins, violas, cellos, basses & percussion, woodwind and brass.
Each musician can gain or lose points for their team based on their punctuality, participation, working cooperatively with fellow musicians, following instructions or completing tasks on time. As well, points may be gained or lost for their team based on achievement in evening activities such as sports, entertainment and downright crazy stuff… including…
Check out this short clip of teams competing for the title of "Team that can collectively wear the most clothes!"
