Review by Terence Dennis, Blair Professor of Music It was heartening to see such a generous complement of players filling the stage of the University of Otago’s Castle 1 Theatre for the Dunedin Youth Orchestra’s 2025 “War and Peace” concert. The chosen theme of the … Continue readingWAR AND PEACE – REVIEW
Review by John van Buskirk Verdi – Overture to La Forza del Destino Its opening, a threatening blast of brass, set the tone of the overture and the ensemble – piccolo shrieking bloody murder to chill the blood … urgent strings pushing things forward with … Continue readingFORCE OF DESTINY – REVIEW
Review by Blair Professor Terence Dennis MNZM FRSNZ FNZAH Given the strictures imposed by the pandemic over the last two years, it was a heartwarming occasion for the two South Island Youth Orchestras to combine and present their joint concert in the spacious ambience and … Continue readingCONNECTIONS – REVIEW
Review by John Van Buskirk DYO – Music for Royal OccasionsA Programme honouring the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II The coronation of Elizabeth II took place on 2 June 1953 in Westminster Abbey and the DYO programme was mindfully chosen to celebrate this moment. … Continue readingMUSIC FOR ROYAL OCCASIONS
At the end of what can only be described as a semester of uncertainty it was heartening to see the Dunedin Youth Orchestra (DYO) provide some sort of end of semester clarity for its players in the form of a live streamed rehearsal-concert experience last … Continue readingTĀONGA AOTEAROA – REVIEW
We are excited to announce that this year’s winner of the Audrey Reid Young Composers Competition is Cameron Monteath! We’re looking forward to playing your composition at our upcoming concert. Many thanks to the judges, mentors, and everyone who submitted. Special shoutout to Radio New … Continue readingAUDREY REID COMPOSITION PRIZE WINNER
Thank you Brenda Harwood and The Star newspaper, and Elizabeth Bouman for your reviews of our recent Dunedin Town Hall Concert. A big congratulations to two of our members, Rose Stevenson and Boudewijn Keenan who came first and third respectively.
Thank you DYO for another great concert. By the Light of the Moon” was such an imaginative programme. You all played with such involvement, colour, and really responded to the energetic and committed conducting of David Burchell. The Fledermaus Overture was confident, fun, bounced from … Continue readingBY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON – REVIEW
Conducted by Beth Cohen, a recording of our latest concert from the 25 July 2020 is now available for your viewing and listening pleasure. The programme included: Mozart – Overture to the Magic Flute ‘Die Zauberflöte’ Saint Saens – Cello Concerto No. 1 in A … Continue readingORCHESTRATED EMPOWERMENT – RECORDING
Saturday night, a loyal audience of Dunedin ‘regulars’ and parents was rewarded with an exuberant performance at the Uni by the DYO. Players and listeners were as one, rejoicing in the public return of live music! One imagines that the challenge of organizing, rehearsing and … Continue readingORCHESTRATED EMPOWERMENT – REVIEW
