European Union Youth Orchestra

Orchestra

Founded in 1974, the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) was created with the aim of establishing a musical workshop where talented young European musicians could work together under the direction of internationally recognised conductors, rehearsing programmes that would tour the cities of Europe. The wider aim behind the orchestra's establishment was the creation of an ensemble that would provide an example of co-operation through its work, and demonstrate the achievement and creativity of European youth. Claudio Abbado conducted the orchestra in its 1978 debut, and its history is studded with the names of the great conductors of the past fifty years, including such luminaries as Daniel Barenboim, Leonard Bernstein, Carlo Maria Giulini, Bernard Haitink, Herbert von Karajan, Zubin Mehta, Dmitri Rostropovich, Georg Solti. 140 young musicians are active in the EUYO at any given time, with more than four thousand young musicians aged between 14 and 23 applying to join the orchestra every year