Junior String Orchestra

For string players around Grades 2-4

ACO Junior String Ensemble in their debut performance at Fountainhall Church at the Stocket, December 2023

Watch

The Junior String Orchestra was established in 2023 to provide a stepping stone to our Youth Orchestra. Like the Youth Orchestra, it rehearses every week, which we believe is really important for developing ensemble-playing skills.

Junior String Orchestra

The Junior String Orchestra is now in its second term.

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 Ensemble will run concurrently with the Youth Ensemble, meaning that when the time is right for a pupil to move up, they simply move next door!

Sign up

Ready to make beautiful music and awesome new friends? Join our Junior String Orchestra! We welcome passionate young string players working around Grade 2-4 level.

Applications are now open – sign up below and let the musical adventures begin! Rehearsals start in August.

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 more!

We’re really proud of our incredible young musicians. 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.

We started with a Youth Ensemble and soon after expanded to full orchestra. Have a listen to their journey below.

December 2023, Fountainhall Church at the Stocket

  • 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)

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