IMYO win Award of Excellence at World Festival of Orchestras, Vienna

The Irish Midlands Youth Orchestra received an Award of Excellence for their performances throughout the 11th World Orchestra Festival in Vienna on July 10-13.

The event gave youth orchestras from 12 countries a platform to showcase their talent in some of Vienna’s most prestigious concert venues.

The IMYO were presented with their award following their final performance in the Musikverein Golden Hall, home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

The IMYO gave a standout performance among the 22 orchestras who performed across two gala concerts during the closing ceremony. Their diverse repertoire featured Sliabh Rua, a piece composed for the orchestra by Tim Doyle which blends orchestral sounds with traditional Irish music.

The IMYO, conducted by Matt Rafter and led by Mary MacCartain, also played in the Wiener Konzerthaus for the opening ceremony, and gave special concerts in the iconic Haus of Strauss and the VHS Kulturgarage.

As well as performances, the group engaged in a cultural exchange with a bilingual youth orchestra from Shanghai, and introduced them to Irish traditional instruments by giving each a tin whistle.

They also explored local monuments and cuisine, and enjoyed performances from the other talented orchestras at the festival.

The award caps off a busy year for the IMYO. They also performed at the 29th Festival of Youth Orchestras in the National Concert Hall and participated in the Camlin Keys Music Festival in Longford, both in May.

The Orchestra meet monthly and give multiple performances each year. They are always looking to recruit new local talent; contact the orchestra at irishmidlandsyo@gmail.com or visit imyo.ie for information.