Youth Bands

Coming soon, August ‘24

Coming Soon: Training/Senior Bands 2024

ACO is dedicated to nurturing the talents of young musicians, offering them vital support in their musical journey. We hold a firm belief that engaging in weekly ensemble activities is crucial for achieving success in the music world. Such training not only hones their skills but also opens doors to advanced musical endeavours.

Having successfully established our Youth Orchestra and now launched our Junior String Orchestra, our focus is now expanding to include bands. This initiative aims to extend similar opportunities to woodwind, brass, and percussion players, ensuring they receive the same level of support and development as our string players.

For those interested in learning more about our Training and Senior Bands, we encourage you to fill out the form below. We are keen to hear from woodwind, brass, and percussion players at Grade 1 level and above.

Youth Orchestra

Have a look at how our Youth Orchestra has developed since its debut concert in January 2023. We want to create ensemble performance opportunities for all levels, training them for regional-level ensembles such as the Grampian Youth Orchestra and national-level ensembles such as the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland. Many of our more advanced Youth Orchestra players have also played with ACO’s main orchestra, a testament to their ability!

Some of the incredible opportunities we’ve created so far include a side-by-side concert with players of the ACO and performing an extract from Mozart’s Don Giovanni with professional singers.

  • Symphony No. 1, Emilie Mayer
    Mvt 1, 3 and 4

  • Don Giovanni, Mozart
    Overture and Final Scene

  • Fiddler's Farewell, Eddie McGuire

Conductor Chris Gray
Leaders Michelle Tse (Mayer), and Tyler Martin (Mozart, McGuire)

December 2023, Fountainhall Church at the Stocket

Side-by-side with players of the Aberdeen City Orchestra, May 2023, Fountainhall Church at the Stocket.

  • Britten Simply Symphony

  • Bartok Romanian Dances

  • Sibelius Symphony No. 1

Conductor Chris Gray
Leader Charlotte Slater

Debut Concert, January 2023, Fountainhall Church at the Stocket.

  • Pirates of the Caribbean, Badelt

  • Psycho Suite, Bernard Hermann

  • Suite for Strings, Rutter

  • Of Glorious Plumage, Balmages

Conductor Chris Gray
Leader Charlotte Slater

Team

  • Chris Gray is the Artistic Director of Scottish Opera’s Youth Company and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen. Chris has worked extensively throughout the UK and Europe as a conductor of youth and amateur ensembles.

  • Faith Ockwell is a Seattle native and has been a resident of Aberdeen since September 2021.

    She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Pacific Lutheran University in Music Education and a Master’s Degree in Musicology and Composition from the University of Aberdeen. Faith has taught Orchestra, Choir, and private Violin lessons for over two decades. She has also spent time performing professionally as a Violinist and chorus singer.

    Faith is supported in her role as conductor by Stephanie Colley, owner of String Studio, and teacher at Albyn School.

  • Aden is a local musician and teacher and has been Chair of the Aberdeen City Orchestra since 2016. He is thrilled that ACO is able to provide these wonderful ensemble opportunities for young musicians in and around the Aberdeen area.

  • Experienced musicians from the Aberdeen City Orchestra, many of whom are instrumental teachers, attend weekly to support the Youth Ensemble, including our Chair and Youth Ensemble Coordinator, Aden Mazur.

    We are lucky to be supported by other highly experienced musicians and educators, including Natalie Kilgallen, Stephanie Colley, Tim Tricker, Laurie Rominger and Sam Paul.