AYO National Music Camp 2012: Blog 1

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AYO National Music Camp 2012: Blog 1
By Natasha Conrau

Day 1: And we’re off!

Another year, another National Music Camp… the 64^th to be exact, as I learnt this evening when our CEO Colin Cornish welcomed the campers, conductors, tutors, composers, administrators and writers to the first day of the 2012 camp. Well, technically it’s the second day – the participants of the Words About Music and Arts Administration programs got started on Saturday (after getting EARLY plane flights from all around the country), hurriedly preparing the Canberra School of Music for the imminent rush of musicians.

The first gathering of the entire camp crew was tonight’s welcome and briefing in Llewellyn Hall. The pure excitement that accompanies all AYO events was clear as the students raucously cheered every conductor, as well as hanging on every wise word from this year’s director, Howard Penny. Not long after, the musicians were finally allowed to break out their instruments and play through the first week’s repertoire. The Nelson Cooke Chamber Orchestra began with their director, Mats Zetterqvist, making sure everyone knew how to pronounce his first name (‘it rhymes with nuts’). The second order of rehearsal was a play through of the vibrant CPE Bach Symphony in C Major, with the violins already showing off some dazzling runs. The Alexander Orchestra got started with Macmillan’s The Confession of Isobel Gowdie, an intriguing piece that I’m sure will be many participants’ first experience of late 20th Century orchestral music. And the Bishop Orchestra ended with a taste of Shostakovich’s massive Tenth Symphony. All in all, a highly satisfying first night of music – can’t wait for Day 2! (or should that be 3?)