Gateshead Youth Orchestra in Hall 1 of The Sage Gateshead

The Gateshead Youth Orchestra was founded  in 1953.  Originally it was a small wind ensemble, but now embraces all standard orchestral instruments and tackles a very wide repertoire.  The aim of the orcestra is to give young musicians the opportunity to perform a wide range of music from a variety of periods and styles.  In venues mainly across the north east of England, and Europe.

Staff

The Gateshead Youth Orchestra is under the Directorship of John Treherne, aided by Judith Thompson – strings, Tony Hedley, Angela Mac Donald and Laura Ashton – woodwind, George Parnaby and David Milner – Brass and Tony Wilson – percussion.

Membership

Some sixty plus students ranging in age from 11 to 19, (average age of 15) form the orchestra membership.  The students either attend school in Gateshead, or have a strong connection to this lively town.

Repertoire

The orchestra splits regularly into two sections: a string ensemble and a wind band, which play very different styles of music.  The wind band plays standard band repertoire, as well as many specially created pieces by their Director Tony Hedley.
In recent years the repertoire has included original works specially composed by Director and conductor John Treherne and colleagues John Goodenough, Kieran Fitzsimons and Brendon Renwick, as well as student compositions. There have also been performances of concerti by J.S. Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart (Piano Concerto K488) and several of Haydn’s Symphonies.
There has been a strong emphasis on repertoire from the eighteenth Century. The orchestra has performed little known works by Charles Avison and gave a full performance of ‘Rosina’ the opera written by the Gateshead born composer William Shield (a student of Charles Avison) which was last performed in the late eighteenth century. 

Rehearsals

The Gateshead Youth Orchestra rehearses weekly at The Dryden Centre (please see Contact Us for a map) on a Tuesday evening during Gateshead schools’ term time from 4.15pm until approximately 6.30 pm.  The members may be divided into the Strings and Senior Wind band for their rehearsals under the conductorship of their respective directors.

Concerts and Events

The orchestra is fortunate that it has the use of the recently refurbished Great Hall in Gateshead’s Dryden Centre as its home base for rehearsals and concerts, and enjoys the encouragement and support of a forward-looking council. 

Each year the orchestra gives a range of performances both in our home base of the Dryden Centre and other venues throughout the north east: including  Hall 1 of The Sage Gateshead. 

Each summer the orchestra embarks on an overseas educational visit. A wide range of countries have been visited including: Germany, France, Holland, the Czech and Slovakian Republics, Spain, Austria and Tuscany.  Overseas tours always create memorable events: the sight of Ian Hills, former Senior Inspector for the LEA, beating upon a nine foot length of scaffolding pole to create the sound of a church bell will be hard to forget.