Imagine wanting to be a rock star and getting to work with the Rolling Stones or Radiohead. Cool, right? Well, imagine no longer, because if you're a young classical musician in Western Sydney, you're invited to work one-on-one with band members from the best chamber orchestra on earth - that's what newspapers in the UK and USA call the ACO. Join Western Sydney's own youth chamber orchestra, the Parramatta String Players, and rehearse with ACO musicians plus get tickets to rehearsals and concerts. All you need to do is play violin, viola, cello or double bass and be at the recommended standard or about (see Combined Schools Worskhops above) and you could be in for the experience of a lifetime.
2010 will see you create your own piece of music which will be combined with a dance work by the young dancers from Western Sydney Dance Action. You will not only work with the players from the ACO, but also with famous composer Matthew Hindson and leading workshop facilitator Gillian Howell, previously of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. She will help you to create themes and ideas for your music, and Matthew will guide you to shape and adapt it for the dancers.
As well as this exciting project, you will also undertake workshops and rehearsals, learning string orchestra repertoire under the expert guidance of your rehearsal leader and ACO mentors. You will also be invited to open rehearsals with the ACO and ACO2. The year will culminate in a public performance at Riverside Theatres, where you will perform with dancers and members of the ACO! You will also perform your new work at the Finals concert of the Western Sydney Dance Action's Fast and Fresh competition.
Media and graphic arts students will create a documentary and a website of the creative process, take photographs of the rehearsals and concert and stage manage the events.
The same core group of students are participating in the string orchestra for the duration of this three year program, which began in 2008, however a limited number of places will become available in 2010 as older students graduate. For students who wish to participate in the Parramatta String Players Program in 2010, please download and complete the application form.
Dates for 2010
PERIOD1
Workshop - 6 & 7 March
PERIOD 2
Rehearsal - Tuesday 18 May, 4.30 - 6pm
Rehearsal - Tuesday 25 May, 4.30pm - 6pm
Workshop - Tuesday 1 June, 10am - 1pm
PERIOD 3
Rehearsal - Tuesday 24 August, 4.30 - 6pm
Rehearsal - Tuesday 31 August, 4.30 - 6pm
Rehearsal - Tuesday 7 September, 4.30 - 6pm
Rehearsal - Tuesday 14 September, 4.30 - 6pm
Workshop - Thursday 16 September, 10am - 1pm
All rehearsals held at Connect Studios or Riverside Theatres in Parramatta.
Open Rehearsals
ACO2
Monday 27 September, 12pm to 1.30pm
ACO Studio, Opera Quays, 2 East Circular Quay – Sydney
ACO
Tuesday 9 November, 2 - 3.30pm
ACO Studio, Opera Quays, 2 East Circular Quay – Sydney
FINAL CONCERT
Thursday 16 September, 2pm
Riverside Theatres
Applications Close: Friday 18 December, 2009.
Download Application Form