The European Youth Music Week has grown out of a post- World War 2 initiative from both the German & UK governments to integrate, through music, the young people of their respective countries after such a damaging confilict. The Anglo German Youth Music Week ran for over 40 years, ably guided by Jeff Babb and Dirk Ellee, alternating between Germany & the UK and being supported by International Arbieter Musiche (IAM) and the National Association of Youth Orchestras (NAYO)

 

In recent years, through the leadership of Keith Horsfall (NAYO) and Peter Koch (IAM),  the week long course has expanded its horizons to become the European Youth Music Week and, as well as holding a course near Arnhem in the Netherlands, has plans to convene further afield. Over the last few years we have had students from over a dozen different countries.

In spite of its broadening horizon it has held true to the guiding prinicples of all those years ago. These are formed around creating international friendship through the pursuit of high quality music making in both in the orchestral and chamber music mediums. Working with top conductors in their fields, students experience a challenging repertoire which they would not normally encounter. Allied to this are philosophical discussions as to the nature of the music being played. Further features also include commissioning new works and providing opportunities for some students to take concerto roles.

 

A unique featue of the course is that there are no fixed seating arrangements - a violinist is just as likely to find themself leading a section as sitting on the back desk, a flautist playing a taxing solo or just doubling second flute!

 

Students, aged between 16 and 26 years, are typically drawn from schools, youth orchestras, conservatiores, universities and even the orchestral profession. We have many participants who, although now in employment, see this week as a wonderful opportunity to continue the skills learnt in their own earlier years and have a holiday as well! The craic in the evenings is always a most enjoyable feature of the course as are the afternoon visits to local places of interest.

 

Many students come back year after year, we now even have the offspring of some students from those early years who they themselves met on the course!