HOW TO
JOIN THE LYDIAN ORCHESTRA
The Orchestra is
open to players aged 14 to 25 years. The minimum standard
required is:
Grade 7 for string players.
Grade 8 for wind and brass players
Percussion players by teacher recommendation.
There are now a number of players of Grade
8 standard who are below the age of 14. Applications will be
considered on an individual basis from anyone in this category.
There are no auditions to join and you do not need to have
actually taken an exam, but your teacher must be able to confirm
that you have attained the appropriate grade. If you want to play
in an orchestra but have not yet reached the standard required
you may be able to join the Lydian Training Orchestra. (Click for details)
FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT BRYN CLARKE
0845 644 4713
COURSES
The Orchestra rehearses during the Christmas, Easter and Summer school &
university holidays over a period of 1 week.
.PERFORMANCES......................................
.. The courses culminate in public concerts given locally
at venues such as the The Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks, and Trinity Arts Theatre,
Tunbridge Wells. The Sevenoaks Young Musician of the
...year plays a
Concerto with the orchestra usually as part of the summer
concert. The orchestra has also given concerts in Rheinbach
(1998), Czech Republic (2000), Italy (2001), Paris (2006) and
.Edinburgh (2003, 2005, 2007
and 2008). However because of Health and Safety concerns the
.Lydian
Committee does not necessarily guarantee places on tours for the youngest
members of .the orchestra.
..................................................FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS ...
...To expand membership of the orchestra and form mixed chamber
groups to give musicians within the orchestra the opportunity of
playing varied and challenging music. To offer concerto
opportunities to its members (selection by audition).
................................... .BACKGROUND
The
Lydian Orchestra is a registered charity. The Orchestra was
founded in 1976 by June Clements with the aim of giving local
talented young musicians the chance to play together, many of
whom have gone on to high profile professional careers.
June recognised a need for talented young musicians to have the opportunity of
playing some of the more challenging orchestral works. Sadly she
died suddenly in 1996 but the Lydian Orchestra is still very much alive today.
Her husband Victor who sadly also died recently said in 2008 "June would be very pleased to know the
orchestra is still going strong. She was a remarkable and determined woman who
found great satisfaction in creating opportunities and developing young
musicians, giving them a chance to play beyond what they might have achieved
otherwise.”
The
Orchestra which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2006 with a Paris tour, is
made up of talented young musicians aged between 14 and 25 who have achieved a
high standard of performance.
Young
soloists at the outset of their careers are included in the Lydian's programme,
notable amongst those who have played with the orchestra are clarinettist Emma Johnson, cellists Alexander Baillie and
Steven Isserlis, and Peter Oundjian, who went on to be leader of the
internationally acclaimed Tokyo String Quartet.
...........................
.THE JUNE CLEMENTS MEMORIAL FUND
This fund was created to
honour the memory of our founder whose creative energy and
enthusiasm over 30 years enhanced the musical life of people in
west Kent. June was a valued member of the Sevenoaks District Arts Council and it is they who have created
the memorial fund. This is used to support the Sevenoaks Young
Musician of the Year Competition. As mentioned above, it is
customary for the winner to play a concerto with the Lydian
orchestra at one of its concerts (usually the summer one) at
which event the silver June Clements Memorial medal is presented.