SNUO USA Tour 2012

Andrew Patner was “knocked out” by the Swedish National Youth Orchestra

2012-02-15T08:27:00.001+01:00

Here the wonderful words from Andrew Patner at 98.7wfmt. Andrew is a Chicago-based author, broadcaster, journalist, and arts critic for the Chicago Sun-Times. He attended the SNUO concert in Chicago on January 25th.

Listen to Andrew's review ->

"Unabashed young Swedish talent"

2012-02-09T10:06:00.002+01:00

The "Nordstjernan" newspaper has published a review by Carl Loof of the Chicago concert:

Some quotes from the article:
"I found myself pleasantly humbled by the sensational performance of these impressive musicians, some as young as 15."

"It is encouraging to see such drive in the hearts and minds of talented Swedish youth to not just perform, but to compete, interact and excel on a global stage."

"I look forward to following in the success of these young musicians and those who they will undoubtedly inspire to similarly pursue dreams in Sweden and abroad."

Read the article ->

A dream fulfilled!

2012-01-28T20:43:00.003+01:00

The tour is now formally over. Thank's to the Swedish Embassy we got a guided tour of the Washington DC landmarks before we took off home.

Approaching Capitolium

The White House

Lincoln Memorial

The very spot where Martin Luther King delivered his famous speech.
It was quite a dream that took us out on this tour as well, and maybe it has woken up a few new ones...

Thank you all!

A lot more pictures will be made available to the members of the orchestra in a week or so. If you have pictures that you want to share with all the other members of the orchestra, send them to tore2e@gmail.com or upload them somewhere and send me a link.

Final concert, Strathmore Center in Washington DC

2012-01-28T14:45:00.003+01:00

A spectacular hall and a really good audience concluded the tour.

More pictures ->

Great success at Carnegie Hall!

2012-01-27T13:44:00.002+01:00

The double bass that Takanari Koyama used in the concert was 400 years old and was once built for a double bass player who used to play with Beethoven. The instrument now belongs to Professor Kurt Muruki.

Hugo Ticciati made a very much appreciated introduction to Tobias Broström's "Samsara".

The orchestra made a good move and delivered it's best performance ever.

More pictures ->

Final preparations at Carnegie Hall

2012-01-26T22:43:00.000+01:00

The Swedish National Youth Orchestra welcomes the wonderful kids from the Ten 0'clock Classics!

The Ten O'clock Classics is a non- profit organization providing weekly private music lessons and instruments free of charge to New York city school children.

"Dagens Industri" is writing about the tour and the orchestra

2012-01-26T17:39:00.000+01:00

The Swedish newspaper "Dagens Industri" wrote about the tour and the SNUO orchestra on Jan 25th. They mention that the idea of forming an orchestra for extra talanted young Swedish musicians came from conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen and that "you hardly can find a more inspiring experience than playing in the Carnegie Hall". Which they are doing tonight Jan 26th at 8.00 PM.

Afternoon off...

2012-01-26T04:50:00.000+01:00

... to have a bite of The Big Apple

Empire State Building from street level

New York from the 102nd level

Times Square

Re-assembly at the Grand Central Station

Master class at Juliard/Metropolitan

2012-01-26T04:36:00.000+01:00

Master class with Professor Paul Pollard for the low brass players.

A voice from the audience at the Chicago Symphony Hall

2012-01-25T23:36:00.001+01:00

The orchestra was wonderful! Such a talented group of young people, and such a consistently high quality performance! We thought it was quite remarkable!
It was clear that the orchestra members are the "cream of the crop" of young instrumentalists. They were so together, with nimble fingers and beautiful expression. It was a joy to hear them!

Preparing for rehearsasls at Cary Hall, New York

2012-01-25T16:04:00.003+01:00

Concert at Scandinavia House hosted by Per Tengstrand

2012-01-25T13:42:00.005+01:00

A group from the SNUO orchestra accompanied Per Tengstrand at Scandinavia House in New York Tuesday evening.

It developed into a fantastic concert with excellent presentations by Per Tengstrand, Tobias Broström and Hugo Ticciati.

Focus was on composer Tobias Broström and his music, especially the "Samsara" piece which was played in a duo version by Hugo Ticciati and Johan Bridger.

On the road again!

2012-01-25T05:21:00.005+01:00

Departing from a (finally) sunny Chicago

Having to split the group on eight different flights to get all 15 cellos on board made the logistics a bit interesting.

It took us from early morning to late evening to get us all to New York.

First trip into town. To have meatballs at the Scandinavia House...

Samples from the Chicago concert

2012-01-24T17:00:00.000+01:00

Concert at the Chicago Symphony Hall

2012-01-24T06:49:00.002+01:00

More pictures ->

Preparing for the Chicago concert

2012-01-24T01:27:00.000+01:00

More pictures ->

Review in the "Expressen" newspaper

2012-01-23T15:59:00.002+01:00

"Overwhelming" is a word used in Expressen's review of the full dress rehearsal preceding the USA tour. "Their version of Arvo Pärt's "Cantus inmemoriam Benjamin Britten" is among the best I have ever experienced".

"Better than our own youth symphony orchestras" said the youth orchestra manager and conductor after yesterday's rehearsals at the Classical Symphony Hall.

Tonight Monday 23rd they perform at the Chicago Symphony Hall at 7:30 PM!

Same old rehearsals, new location

2012-01-22T19:40:00.001+01:00

("The L" is passing right outside the window in the back)

Everyone and everything arrived to Chicago safe and sound

2012-01-22T14:56:00.000+01:00

Always playing, even at the airport

2012-01-21T14:23:00.001+01:00

A voice from the audience at Berwaldhallen

2012-01-20T07:50:00.005+01:00

"Visiting the concert today knowing there would be some young persons performing I did not have high expectations of the concert. Listening and watching them perform I was astonished of their skills. Although young they performed very professionally. I was overwhelmed!"
Lars Wadman

Full dress rehearsal at Berwaldhallen, Stockholm

2012-01-19T20:57:00.000+01:00

More pictures ->

Practicing, rehearsing......

2012-01-13T10:22:00.000+01:00

Some thoughts from a member of the orchestra:
Practicing, rehearsing, listening to the words from all different teachers and trying to do my best using them. Waking up early, playing all day, going to bed late, exhausted after the day’s work, but richer than the night before. It’s hard though. It steals every last bit of everyone’s energy. But I try to keep my head up and work even harder, to reach the result that me myself can accept and be proud of, plus even more. Because going to America with my music is the greatest thing that I as a musician has ever done, and better than best is the only result I’m after. Of course I’m tired and blinded by the music after just one week of non-stop rehearsing, but that feeling hits everyone after doing something this intense, right? The best thing is that those feelings are gone only minutes after the last rehearsal, and I actually found myself missing the orchestra the day after…

When thinking about the orchestra and the adventure it lets med be a part of, I feel nothing but gratitude (and worry about not knowing the music good enough…). I feel lucky for being surrounded by people who think this is important and do all of their abilities to make things work, and people who want to create music and make wonderful memories together with me. I was chosen to be a part of this, so I will do my best. And I’m so excited about the tour so there will be no problem playing well.

I know that our country has the ability to touch people with our way of creating and sharing music, the love we all live for. This is 2012, and I know that we are ready to prove the world I am right!!!

Rehearsals in Stockholm Jan 6

2012-01-07T16:55:00.001+01:00

Rehearsals started

2012-01-06T19:18:00.000+01:00

The SNUO orchestra has been gathered for several days now at the WMCA facilities in downtown Stockholm.

More pictures ->

About SNUO

2012-01-04T19:26:00.000+01:00

The aim of the SNUO project is to give talented and enthusistic young musicians from all Sweden an opportunity to meet like-minded and have unforgettable musical experiences.

The "Sveriges Nationella Ungdoms-symfoniorkester" foundation has been formed on initiative by "Lilla Akademien" to run the Swedish National Youth Orchestra. This initiative will reach out as a joint effort for young musicians in Sweden and to give them an international contact network.