Initial String Orchestra
For string players who have been learning for a year or more
Initial String Orchestra
Are you a budding string player ready to take the next step? Our new Initial String Orchestra is the perfect place to begin your ensemble journey! If you've been playing violin, viola, cello, or double bass for a year or more, come and join.
We'll focus on the fun basics of playing together, developing your listening skills, and creating beautiful music as a team.
Applications are open all year round. Our next concert is on May 28th, 7pm at Fountainhall Church at the Stocket.
Youth Ensembles
Our Youth Ensembles are attended by over 70 young musicians each week ranging from beginner through to advanced. Some of our Youth Orchestra players play with national orchestras such as NYOS and NYO, and they regularly join the main Aberdeen City Orchestra!
Team
-
Aden is a local musician and teacher and has been coordinating the Youth Ensembles since 2021. He is thrilled that ACO can provide these wonderful ensemble opportunities for young musicians in and around the Aberdeen area.
-
Dr. Laurie Rominger is a musician and educator, passionate about inspiring musicians of all ages and strengthening community through music. She conducts Learig Orchestra, Aberdeen City Orchestra Youth Ensemble, and the advanced string orchestra at Big Noise Torry.
-
Experienced musicians from the Aberdeen City Orchestra, many of whom are instrumental teachers, attend weekly to support the Youth Ensemble, including our Chair and Youth Ensemble Coordinator, Aden Mazur.
We are lucky to be supported by other highly experienced musicians and educators, including Natalie Kilgallen, Stephanie Colley, Lucy Webster, Tim Tricker, Laurie Rominger and Sam Paul.
Watch!
Sit back, relax, and enjoy two recent performances. The Youth Orchestra has grown from its inception as a string ensemble to a full symphony orchestra!
Our third concert since forming in 2022, the ACO Youth Ensemble performs Emilie Mayer Symphony No. 1 and Mozart's Don Giovanni Overture and Final Scene.
Performance 2, side-by-side with players of the Aberdeen City Orchestra, May 2023, Fountainhall Church at the Stocket.
Junior String Orchestra
Following the success of the Youth Orchestra, we are pleased to announce the launch of our new Junior String Orchestra.
Supported by local string teachers Emma Bell and Stephanie Colley, the young musicians will work on developing listening skills, team working skills, and confidence building, alongside preparing them for more advanced ensemble playing and having fun!
We have many other local musicians who are interested in providing support, so all we need now are some young people to sign up!
The Junior String Orchestra runs concurrently with the Youth Orchestra, meaning that when the time is right for a pupil to move up, they simply move next door!
ACO Junior String Orchestra in their debut performance, December 2023
Music from Harry Potter - John Williams
Don Quixote Rides Again - Robert Ramskill
Groovy Strings - Tony Osborne
The ACO Junior String orchestra was established in 2023 to provide a stepping stone to our Youth Ensemble (full orchestra). Like the Youth Orchestra, it rehearses every week, which we believe is really important in developing ensemble-playing skills. This is our debut performance, and what a journey it has been from their first meeting and initial sightreading through music to THIS. We are so impressed. Keep up the good work!