Some of Australia’s leading musicians will return to their roots, when the Sydney Youth Orchestra (SYO) stages its 40th birthday celebration concert this Sunday with a performance by players past and present. SYO has trained many of Australia’s top orchestral players over the past four decades, and more than twenty will return to the SYO ranks for the  concert.

Stravinsky’s Greeting Prelude, with its energetic variations on the “Happy Birthday theme”, opens what promises to be one of the most memorable performances in the SYO’s history.

Next, Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante provides an opportunity to see some of our finest young musicians as soloists. This animated concertante pairs the strings played by Benjaimin Tjoa and Jonathan Bekes, with the wind soloists, Ennes Mehmedbasic and Harley Milano. All four musicians were finalists in the SYO 2012 concerto competition.

Then experience the power of Mahler’s Sixth Symphony as the SYO alumni, many now in Australia’s leading ensembles, join the current orchestra to perform what is sometimes known as Mahler’s ‘Tragic Symphony’. SYO’s Artistic Director and Chief Conductor, Max McBride promises an evening to remember.

The SYO’s 40th anniversary concert will take place this Sunday 3rd November at 3pm at the Verbugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music.