So young, with so much passion

The Adelaide Youth Orchestra's passion for music will be on display at the University of Adelaide's Elder Hall this month.

The Adelaide Youth Orchestra (AdYO) celebrates youth music in South Australia by nurturing and developing the talents of emerging young artists between the ages of eight and 26 from every part of the community.

Each week more than 160 young musicians participate in one of three ensembles: Adelaide Youth Orchestra, Adelaide Youth Sinfonia or Adelaide Youth Strings.

Under the direction of artistic director Keith Crellin, Head of Strings at the university's Elder School of Music, AdYO offers young musicians the opportunity to practice and perform in a vibrant and challenging musical environment.

"Passion" is the third concert in the AdYO's Symphonic Journeys series, and will be held at 8pm on Saturday, October 23.

Among the works on offer is Beethoven's Romance in F for Violin and Orchestra with soloist Emily Tulloch.

Emily completed her Bachelor of Music degree at the Elder School of Music in 2003 and this year is taking Honours. She has participated in the last four National Music Camp programs, holding the position of Principal Second Violin, and has also worked with Jane Peters. Emily has led both the symphony and chamber orchestras at the Elder School of Music and is currently the concertmaster of the Adelaide Youth Orchestra.

Other features of "Passion" are Tchaikovsky's Symphony no. 4 and Australian composer Richard Meale's Three Miro Pieces, which features a barrage of percussion. This is the first time that AdYO has presented a contemporary Australian work.

"It is a wonderful, colourful program," said conductor Keith Crellin, "from Tchaikovsky's centrepiece in Russian Romantic music to the massive contemporary orchestra of Meale's composition to the solo work played by Emily Tulloch - the orchestra makes a splendid sound."

While the youth ensembles have performed many concerts to great acclaim, a highlight of the program this year was the highly successful combined concert "Adventure" in June, as part of the 2004 Symphonic Journeys season.

Later this month, the Adelaide Youth Sinfonia and Adelaide Youth Strings will join to present "Wild West!" on October 24 at St Oswald's Church, Parkside. The concert will include works by Schubert and Mozart, as well as contemporary favourites from the movies and the Beatles!