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Youth orchestras under spotlight at official book launch

12 September 2007

Professor Margaret Kartomi is the main author and one of the editors of a new book that examines the place of youth orchestras within Australia and throughout the world.

A new book by Monash University musicologists, which examines youth orchestras within Australia and throughout the world, will have its official launch next week.

Growing Up Making Music: Youth Orchestras in Australia and the World, edited by Professor Margaret Kartomi AM, FAHA and Dr Kay Dreyfus with Dr David Pear, is a special issue of the Australasian Music Review, published by Lyrebird Press.

It deals with the Australian Youth Orchestra and its place in the world of youth orchestras, 2004 -- 2007.

Professor Raelene Frances, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, will formally present the volume to Mr Colin Cornish, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Youth Orchestra, in honour of its 50th year, 1957 -- 2007.

"This is the first book of its kind to be written on youth orchestras," Professor Kartomi said.

"It is the first comparative study of youth orchestras across the world, based on our field and archival work in Australia, Europe and North America, plus data on youth orchestras in New Zealand, China, Venezuela and South Africa."

Research began in 2004 and was funded mainly by the Australian Research Council with a contribution from the Australian Youth Orchestra.

"Our future industrial partner, the Australian Youth Orchestra, decided in 2003 that they wanted us to carry out research into their orchestra in comparison with leading overseas youth orchestras, so I decided to visit many youth orchestras in Europe and North America as well as studying AYO and the Australian scene," Professor Kartomi said.

Amongst a wealth of information, there are a number of key findings from the research.

Australian Youth Orchestra Principal Clarinettist and Monash Music student Mr Samuel Curkpatrick will perform Debussy's Rhapsody at the launch.

"Youth orchestras are a culturally significant institution whose wide-ranging social, educational and cultural benefits are often either overlooked or taken for granted," Professor Kartomi said.

"In the course of the 20th century, youth orchestras, with small beginnings from the 1930s, have become a major industry throughout the world."

Another key finding from the research, according to Professor Kartomi, is that it demonstrates, amongst other things, that "classical music is alive and well".

"Our researchers show that in Australia, as in Europe, North America and elsewhere, tens of thousands of children, teenagers and young adults participate annually in youth orchestra workshops, camps, concerts and concert tours, and that they are very successfully creating the next generation of orchestral musicians and music lovers who are very enthusiastic about it all."

Australian Youth Orchestra Principal Clarinettist and Monash Music student, Mr Samuel Curkpatrick, will perform Debussy's Rhapsody at the launch with Ms Anna Carson on piano.

Growing Up Making Music: Youth Orchestras in Australia and the World will be launched at the Performing Arts Centre, Monash University, Clayton, 7pm -- 9pm, on Monday 17 September.

For more details contact Margaret Kartomi on 9560 3966 or email: margaret.kartomi@arts.monash.edu.au.