UNITED YOUTH ORCHESTRA | Hamilton, New Zealand

Our beginnings and our aims

Today comprising around 35-40 members with ages from ~13 to ~21 years (high school age and up), the United Youth Orchestra (UYO) was formed on 14th February, 2003.

Why united?

we are united in our enjoyment and appreciation of classical and other orchestral and chamber music;
we are united in our aim of helping young musicians of the Waikato to achieve their highest potential in music (as orchestral players, ensemble players, or as soloists);
we are united in bringing together young people of many different nationalities and cultures (we have more than ten countries represented in our ranks); and
we are united in our desire to enjoy our music making and social time together.

UYO in Concert, Academy of Performing Arts

Our development and status

Since its formation, the orchestra has become the premier youth orchestra of the Waikato region, performing three or four concerts each year. Our major concerts, performed in the WEL Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, are usually in mid-June and mid-October. We travelled to New Plymouth 19-20th September 2009 to take part in a joint concert with the Taranaki Youth Orchestra (TYO). We went to Te Puke (Bay of Plenty) in May 2010 and April 2006 and to New Plymouth in April 2005 where we put on a joint concert with the TYO. TYO came to Hamilton to take part in concerts with us in 2003 and in 2007.

UYO and Taranaki Youth Orchestra members before their joint concert in New Plymouth 20 Sept, 2009

Our players

Most players in UYO are Grade 5-6 or above and undergo trial rehearsals or short auditions. We normally rehearse Fridays 7.00 - 9.00 pm (during school terms) at the bandroom of Hamilton Brass, Clyde St, Hillcrest, Hamilton (next to the Police Station - near The Warehouse). We also run several Sunday afternoon workshops each term with professional tutors.

Many players from UYO have gone on to university studies in Auckland, Hamilton, and Wellington, Christchurch or overseas. Several have been selected as members of the National Youth Orchestra or the National Secondary Schools Orchestra. Some have become members of the Opus Chamber Orchestra (based in Hamilton) and the Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra. Since 2008 selected members have been sponsored with UYO Summer Scholarships to take part in the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra annual summer school held in January in Auckland.

Our music director Yoshi Tatsumi

Yoshi is foundation music director of UYO. Originally from Kobe, Japan, Yoshi studied brass performance especially French horn and spent 10 years with a civic wind orchestra in Tokyo training as a conductor. Arriving in New Zealand in 1990, Yoshi was music director of the Waikato Schools Orchestra and then Waikato Youth Orchestra from 1995 to 2002. He was selected for conductors’ masterclasses under Nicholas Braithwaite and Miguel Harth-Bedoya in 1999 and 2000. Yoshi is a guest conductor of Bay of Plenty Symphonia, and led them for a concert in November 2005. He was given a Civic Award (Hamilton) in 2003 in recognition of his substantial contributions to youth music. Yoshi also contributed to the Japanese Garden, Hamilton Gardens.

Our current leader (2012) – Christopher Chen

Christopher Chen is UYO's leader for 2012. Deputy leader is Eszter McComb.

Christopher started playing the violin at the age of 5 in Malaysia and is currently learning under the tutelage of Dr. Lara Hall. Christopher passed his ATCL in violin with distinction at the age of 14 in 2010. In 2011, he competed in the Hamilton Competition Society in which he was awarded the Johan Endert Cup for outstanding musicianship and nominated for the National Young Performers Award in Invercargill. Christopher also competed successfully in the Te Awamutu Competitions, playing both the violin and viola. He is also currently doing his ATCL in piano with Anne Nisbet.

In 2010, Christopher performed in the piano quartet, LCYC whilst in the University of Waikato’s Accelerando programme (junior music academy), and also for the Secondary Schools’ Chamber Music Contest, in which his group was “highly commended”. In 2010 and 2012, he also participated in the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestral summer school.

Christopher currently plays in the UYO and the Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra.

Previous Leaders

Previous leaders of UYO have been:

Jason Yan (2011)
Poh Lin Teo (2010)
Helen Yang (2009)
Sam Chan (2nd half 2008)
Marco Schneider (2007, 1st half 2008)
Rebecca Pullon (2006, second half 2005)
PohSuan Teo (first-half 2005)
Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly (2004)
PohSuan Teo (2003, foundation leader)

Scholarships

Each year we encourage our members to apply to 'Play with the NZSO' as part of the NZSO educational programme. Members are also encouraged to attend the Auckland Philharmonia’s Summer School in January each year. The UYO attempts to gain funding each year to provide one or more UYO Summer Scholarships to help enable UYO players to attend the APO Summer School each year.

Please join us

We currently have vacancies for all instruments but especially lower strings and double reeds (oboe, bassoon) (we can lend viola and bassoon). Players on all orchestral instruments are considered, however, because each year we farewell several senior players and introduce new ones. Please feel welcome to contact the music director Mr Yoshi Tatsumi if you would like to join us. A membership application form, which includes our code of conduct for members, is available below or on request.
Membership application form

The UYO is a smoke-free, alcohol-free and illicit-drug-free organisation.