Youth Orchestra Hits Right Note With Minister

Culture Minister Edwin Poots has highlighted the extremely high standard of musicianship demonstrated by Northern Ireland’s award winning world-class youth orchestra.

The Minister, who was speaking after attending one of the Ulster Youth Orchestra’s summer concerts in Londonderry’s Guildhall, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed tonight’s concert. It was truly refreshing to see the enthusiasm of some of Northern Ireland’s most gifted young classical musicians. The performance, directed by talented guest conductor André de Ridder, was exceptional and reinforced why the Ulster Youth Orchestra is regarded as one of the best youth orchestra’s in the United Kingdom.”

The 2007-08 Programme started officially on August 8 when almost 100 young musicians assembled for the Orchestra’s annual residential course at Greenmount Agricultural College, Antrim, which will culminate in the two summer concerts at the Guildhall, Londonderry and Clonard Monastery, Belfast on the 16th and 17th August respectively.

This Minister added: “We can all take a great deal of pride in having an award winning world class youth orchestra in Northern Ireland. The Board and staff of the Ulster Youth Orchestra continue to do an excellent job in enabling young people from all sections of our community achieve their musical potential.”

The Minister thanked the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the corporate sponsors, UK property development and investment company Land Securities, for supporting the work of the Orchestra.

The Minister also commended Ian Ellis and Rick Lawrence of Land Securities for their appreciation of the positive impact that their support for the Orchestra can have on the local community.

Mr Poots said: “We are all very aware of the difficulties that face the arts in terms of the amount of government and lottery funding that is available. I would encourage arts organisations to continue to actively seek out corporate sponsors such as Land Securities to support their valuable work.”

The internationally renowned German conductor, André de Ridder, who has worked with numerous leading orchestras throughout Great Britain and Europe, will direct both performances.

(SB/SP)