Junior String Orchestra

For string players around Grades 2-4

ACO Junior String Ensemble in their debut performance at Fountainhall Church at the Stocket, December 2023

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The Junior String Orchestra was established to provide a stepping stone to our Youth Orchestra. Like the Youth Orchestra, it rehearses every week, which we believe is really important for developing ensemble-playing skills.

Junior String Orchestra

The Junior String Orchestra has been running since 2023.

Supported by local string teachers, the young musicians will work on developing listening skills, teamwork 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 Ensemble runs concurrently with the Youth Ensemble, meaning that when the time is right for a pupil to move up, they simply move next door!

Sign up

Ready to make beautiful music and awesome new friends? Join our Junior String Orchestra! We welcome young string players working around Grade 2-4 level.

Applications are open all year round – sign up below and let the musical adventures begin!

Our rehearsals start back in August.

Sign up

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 Youth Ensemble Coordinator, Aden Mazur.

    We are lucky to be supported by other highly experienced musicians and educators, including Callum Young, Natalie Kilgallen, Stephanie Colley, Lucy Webster, Tim Tricker, Sam Paul.

Watch more!

We’re really proud of our incredible young musicians. We want to create ensemble performance opportunities for all levels, training them for regional-level ensembles such as the Grampian Youth Orchestra and national-level ensembles such as the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.

We started with a Youth Ensemble and soon after expanded to full orchestra. Have a listen to their journey below.

December 2023, Fountainhall Church at the Stocket

  • Symphony No. 1, Emilie Mayer
    Mvt 1, 3 and 4

  • Don Giovanni, Mozart
    Overture and Final Scene

  • Fiddler's Farewell, Eddie McGuire

Conductor Chris Gray
Leaders Michelle Tse (Mayer), and Tyler Martin (Mozart, McGuire)

Side-by-side with players of the Aberdeen City Orchestra, May 2023, Fountainhall Church at the Stocket.

  • Britten Simply Symphony

  • Bartok Romanian Dances

  • Sibelius Symphony No. 1

Conductor Chris Gray
Leader Charlotte Slater

Debut Concert, January 2023, Fountainhall Church at the Stocket.

  • Pirates of the Caribbean, Badelt

  • Psycho Suite, Bernard Hermann

  • Suite for Strings, Rutter

  • Of Glorious Plumage, Balmages

Conductor Chris Gray
Leader Charlotte Slater