Ray Chen in his AYO Debut with Simone Young

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Our mid-year season for the Australian Youth Orchestra is rapidly approaching and promises another powerful and exciting concert. Simone Young will conduct a program of orchestral masterworks – Stravinsky’s impassioned Symphony in Three Movements, Sibelius’ epic Violin Concerto in D minor and Tchaikovsky’s moody Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op.74 Pathetique.

This is the second time that one of the world’s most celebrated conductors, Simone Young has worked with the AYO, having last conducted the orchestra in the monumental Alpine Symphony at QPAC in 2012. The energy and incredible performance given by the orchestra was due to the enthusiasm, rehearsals full of experimentation and commitment from all parties. Vigour and unburdened excitement will once again ensure an unforgettable performance under Maestro Young’s mighty baton.

Australian violinist, Ray Chen will make his Australian Youth Orchestra debut this July, in his hometown of Brisbane. At the tender age of four, Chen picked up a toy guitar, placed it under his chin and began playing it with a chopstick. This was the moment his parents knew he would be a violinist. Growing up in Brisbane, Chen studied the Suzuki method, which developed his passion for the instrument and classical performance.

Ray Chen will make his debut with the Australian Youth Orchestra with a performance of Sibelius’ exhilarating Violin Concerto in D minor, an iconic concerto for the instrument. In his short career, Chen has won two of the most highly regarded violin competitions in the world – The Queen Elisabeth Competition (2009) and the Yehudi Menuhin Competition (2008). In March 2010, Ray signed an exclusive multi-year recording contract with Sony Classical.