Initial String Orchestra

For string players who have been learning for a year or more

Initial String Orchestra - NEW for 2024/25

Are you a budding string player ready to take the next step? Our new Initial String Orchestra is the perfect place to begin your ensemble journey! If you've been playing violin, viola, cello, or double bass for a year or more, join us starting in August. We'll focus on the fun basics of playing together, developing your listening skills, and creating beautiful music as a team. Register your interest now to be part of this exciting new orchestra!

Youth Ensembles

Our Youth Ensembles are attended by around 60 young musicians each week and with plans to add our Initial String Orchestra plus two bands for woodwind/brass/percussion players, it’s sure to grow even more!

Team

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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, Lucy Webster, Tim Tricker, Laurie Rominger and Sam Paul.

Watch!

Sit back, relax, and enjoy two recent performances. The Youth Orchestra has grown from its inception as a string ensemble to a full symphony orchestra!

Our third concert since forming in 2022, the ACO Youth Ensemble performs Emilie Mayer Symphony No. 1 and Mozart's Don Giovanni Overture and Final Scene.

Performance 2, side-by-side with players of the Aberdeen City Orchestra, May 2023, Fountainhall Church at the Stocket.

Junior String Orchestra

Following the success of the Youth Orchestra, we are pleased to announce the launch of our new Junior String Orchestra.

Supported by local string teachers Faith Ockwell and Stephanie Colley, the young musicians will work on developing listening skills, team working skills, and confidence building, alongside preparing them for more advanced ensemble playing and having fun!

We have many other local musicians who are interested in providing support, so all we need now are some young people to sign up!

The Junior String Orchestra runs concurrently with the Youth Orchestra, meaning that when the time is right for a pupil to move up, they simply move next door!

ACO Junior String Ensemble in their debut performance, December 2023

Music from Harry Potter - John Williams
Don Quixote Rides Again - Robert Ramskill
Groovy Strings - Tony Osborne

The ACO Junior String Ensemble was established in 2023 to provide a stepping stone to our Youth Ensemble (full orchestra). Like the Youth Ensemble, it rehearses every week, which we believe is really important in developing ensemble-playing skills. This is our debut performance, and what a journey it has been from their first meeting and initial sightreading through music to THIS. We are so impressed. Keep up the good work!