Fourth-year oboe major, Seow Yibin
Fourth-year french horn major, Xie Yelin
Fourth-year trombone major, Songyos Umnouypornsatid
Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO), 12 July to 31 August 2008
Three of our fourth-year students - Seow Yibin (Oboe), Xie Yelin (French Horn) and Songyos Umnouypornsatid (Trombone) have each won a coveted place in the AYO, including the chance to study over this summer with AYO’s distinguished faculty of musicians from the Boston, Chicago, Baltimore and San Francisco Symphony Orchestras.
Some 1,000 to 1,500 musicians in 12 Asian countries audition each year for the AYO. Founded by Yehudi Menuhin and Richard Pontzious in 1987, its aim is to expose Asia’s brightest young musicians to rich and varied artistic experiences that include rare opportunities for exchange, study and performance. Chosen through highly competitive auditions held throughout the region, these 100-plus members come together for six weeks each summer, initially for a three week rehearsal camp, then to perform on tour for three weeks with international solo artists and conductors.