It's fewer than four weeks until the start of AIYF 2009, and things are hotting up! We're very excited about our programme, which you can browse at your leisure here. We've got a diverse programme of drama this year, featuring groups from Aberdeenshire to Zimbabwe, and largely sponsored by MacB.
Aberdeenshire Youth Theatre are presenting "Our Scotland" - their take on Homecoming year and all things Scottish, in the style of a TV magazine programme. Funded by the Aberdeenshire Council Homecoming Scotland 2009, we look forward to welcoming this exciting young group back to AIYF for the fourth time.
PACE Theatre Company is a vibrant and thriving arts organisation which runs the largest Youth Theatre in the UK with over 2000 members. They are bringing an abridged version of "Romeo and Juliet" to AIYF, which applies the enduring themes of this classic play to the youth of today.
Umkhathi Theatre Company make a welcome return to AIYF from Zimbabwe, with "African Tales". They will present an imaginative and powerful storytelling tradition through music, dance, song and theatre. Audiences were wowed by their energy and friendly enthusiasm on their last visit to Aberdeen.
Scottish Youth Theatre continue their long association with AIYF with a modern re-interpretation of "Hamlet", which sees the title role played by a woman! In addition, some of their senior members will be performing in a Burns' Ceilidh alongside other festival participants, and there will be a showcase of the results of their two week performance course.
Shell are sponsoring Youth Music Theatre:UK's production of "Peter Pan", which has been transformed into a musical. An unforgettable adventure which has been returned to its magical and powerful roots has also been re-invented for the 21st century, taking us from the ordinary to the extraordinary.
As you can see, there is something for everyone and all our tickets for the drama events are a bargain at £5! In addition, we have a festival pass available which gives you even greater value for money - see our programme for details.
Check back soon for information on the rest of our exciting programme - contemporary dance, song, orchestral music, ballet, chamber music, jazz and more!
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Coming Soon...Theatre!
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Ceol Mor Auditions
Aberdeen International Youth Festival’s big band, is looking for musicians for this summer.
The band was established in 2006 as a project where young musicians, especially those interested in traditional music, could use their music skills to explore some of the new work that's currently being written, where composers are exploring the margins between traditional music, contemporary classical music and jazz. This year we are looking at band members exploring some of their own ideas in order to devise new work, and at some short pieces by Scottish jazz trumpeter, Colin Steele. The band’s Musical Director is Harris Playfair, with additional support from fiddler, violist and singer, Mairi Campbell.
There are places in the band for this summer, specifically for clarsach, pipes (especially Border or small pipes), cello, accordion, fiddle, trumpet, trombone, and drums/ percussion. We would like to invite young musicians aged between 16 and 25 to audition for the available places.
Auditions will be held in
Tiger Tiger, Shiprow, Aberdeen on Saturday 9th May 11a.m. – 4p.m.
Quaker Meeting House, Edinburgh on Saturday 16th May 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Applicants should be reasonably good readers, and have an interest in a wide range of music. The deadline for applications to audition is Friday 7th May for Aberdeen and Friday 14th May for Edinburgh.
The dates for this summer are 25 July to 1 August, 2009, with three gigs at the end of that week, and a possible additional performance in Edinburgh on 2 August. The cost of the week is £160 all in (accommodation and meals at Aberdeen University campus)
For more information contact Aberdeen International Youth Festival01224 213800 or visit the website: www.aiyf.org and click on the menu header Taking Part
Monday, 30 March 2009
Photo of the week
Friday, 6 February 2009
Festival News Update
We're pleased to annouce that we have confirmation from youth orchestras from the Netherlands (No-ordhollands Y.O.) Scotland (NYOS), and the Basque Region of Spain (Basque Y.O.).
The Festival’s own creation – the traditional music big band, Ceol Mor will be performing at the Beach Ballroom and at some venues outwith the city centre, and we will be having special Burns Celebrations as part of Homecoming Scotland, including winners of national Burns competitions, with Highland dancing, piping, and a theatrical exploration of The Enlightenment.
Theatre groups will include the highly-acclaimed Mitchell School of Drama from Inverurie, Youth Music Theatre UK, and Scottish Youth Theatre.
We'll be extending the chamber series after the success of last year, with a series of concerts as well as the Norman Cooper Chamber Music Competition.
All being well, we'll aslo be welcoming back the Toronto All Star Steel Band from Canada, and Happy Feet from Norway, the National Youth Choir of Scotland plus dance companies from Ghana and the Bahamas!
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Festival creates new supporters scheme
Individual Giving
The Festival Stars scheme has been created to acknowledge the contribution made to Aberdeen International Youth Festival by individual donors.
Support from private individuals is crucial in enabling the Aberdeen International Youth Festival's exciting work to continue. Core public funding accounts for approximately 25% of our income and we have to raise at least £150,000 annually over and above our other earnings.
Your donation will help assist the international arts companies take part in the Festival and will also enable the Festival to continue its education projects creating opportunities for local young people.
As a Star donor, you will be acknowledged on our website and in print, unless you wish to remain anonymous.
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Festival Stars
You can become a Festival Star by making a donation to the Festival. Named stars start at £100, rising to £1500 for a Diamond Star.
Diamond Star £1,500
Emerald Star £1,000
Ruby Star £500
Crystal Star £100
Star support is cumulative, so you can work up to becoming a Diamond Star by donating ever year.
If you would like to become a Festival Star and join our group of highly valued individual supporters, please contact us at:
Aberdeen International Youth Festival
35 Regent Quay
Aberdeen
AB11 5BE
Tel: 01224 213800
Or donate through the website at www.thebiggive.org.uk
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The Big Give
Donate to Aberdeen International Youth Festival on 1st December, and The Big Give will match your donation.
The Big Give have a £1million fund to give away, and will match any donation made through their website, until the money has run out. Even £1 will make a difference to AIYF and help secure the future of the Festival, and if you are a UK tax payer and gift aid your donation this means the Festival will also receive an additional 28p per pound.
Visit www.thebiggive.org.uk and click on the charity search option to find Aberdeen International Youth Festival.
Friday, 14 November 2008
Festival musicians nominated for awards
Young traditional musicians from the Aberdeen International Youth Festival are in the running for a host of prestigious awards.
Daniel Thorpe, from Inverurie, is in final round of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award 2009, having made it through the semi finals in Coulter last month.
Daniel has been involved in the Aberdeen International Youth Festival for 8 years, taking part in their Traditional Music School and then becoming a member of the Festival’s Trad Big Band, Ceòl Mòr. Daniel was also chosen by the AIYF to represent the North East at the International Festival for Emerging Artists in London. Daniel was involved with many groups including the Garioch Fiddlers and studied traditional music in Plockton before graduating with honours from the RSAMD. He is now performing with ceilidh band 'Heuch' and his own trio, Tyskie, which he formed with fellow students at RSAMD.
Bodega, the young, five piece band who taught on the Festival’s summer school this year, have been nominated for “Up and Coming Artist of the Year” at the Scots Trad Music Awards . Members of the band were originally pupils at the Splore, before graduating to Ceòl Mòr and now teaching on the course.
Bodega won the BBC Radio2 Young Folk Band award for 2005/06 and have since gone on to release two CDs. Bodega are: Gillian Chalmers (from Fraserburgh), pipes and whistle; Ross Couper, fiddle; Tia Files, acoustic and bass guitar; Norrie MacIver accordion, guitar, djembe, vocals; and June Naylor clarsach and piano.
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The Splore (Monday 27 July - Friday 31 July) is a week long trad music summer school held as part of AIYF. The Splore offers classes in fiddle, whistle, guitar and percussion for students aged 12 - 16, with tutors from leading young trad bands.
Ceòl Mòr is the Aberdeen International Youth Festival's young traditional big band, made up of some of the most most promising young musicians from Scotland and overseas.
They perform original and innovative arrangements of traditional Scottish songs and music as well as original work exploring the margins between traditional music, jazz and contemporary classical music. They perform at the AIYF, and have guested at the Trad Music Awards, the Arts & Business Awards and at Celtic Connections.
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Festival is worth over £1 million to NE economy
An economic impact study of the 2008 Aberdeen International Youth Festival found that it is worth more than £1 million to the local economy.
The study shows that festival has a £1.2m impact and directly or indirectly supports the creation of 25 full-time equivalent jobs in the North-east.
Based on the annual funding grant from Aberdeen City Council to AIYF, the return to the city and wider area is more than nine times on the initial investment through ticket sales, accommodation, transport and general spend in shops and restaurants.
The study also showed that the festival had a 98% audience satisfaction rating of good or very good. More than 40% of those who did not live locally visited Aberdeen solely to attend the festival. Some 89% of the audience said that they planned to come back to next year’s festival.
The 2008 festival welcomed more than 1000 participants from 14 different countries. They took part in more than 85 events across 30 venues during the 10 days.
It attracted more than 8500 audience members as well as many more at the major free events on Tartan Day and Festival in the City.
There were participants from Switzerland, USA, Hong Kong, Brazil, and China, Some 80% of the young participants indicated they would like to visit Scotland and the North-east again in the near future.
The 2009 festival is already taking shape. Applications from as far a field as Israel, Canada, Spain and Zimbabwe will bring a wide range of orchestral, new music, choral, dance, theatre and visual arts to Aberdeen and the Shire. The 2009 festival will take place between 29 July and 8 August.
AIYF artistic director Stewart Aitken said: “We were delighted with the findings of the report which helped confirm what a lot of people have believed about the festival.
“Even with the difficult economic climate an event such as the Aberdeen International Youth Festival can bring economic benefit to the area thorough cultural engagement.
“I hope we can build on these findings for 2009 festival and increase the impact and benefits the festival has for the population of the North-east, especially through more participatory opportunities for local young people.”
The study was conducted by EKOS Ltd and funded by Event Scotland. Nearly 400 people took part.
Thursday, 7 August 2008
Tuesday, 5 August 2008
Festival in The City
Last Sunday was the first ever Festival in the City. The idea behind this brand new event was to bring AIYF out onto the streets. With seven stages set up across the city, there was plenty of chance to see groups like Tamana Pioneer Steel Orchestra, Shenzhen City Dancing Team and the Jamie Safiruddin Quartet.
The Seven Stages were set up in Union Terrace Gardens, Trinity Mall; Academy Courtyard; Provost Skene’s Gardens; St Nicholas Church Yard; John Lewis and Marks & Spencer. Each stage saw a variety of acts ranging from festival participants to local Aberdeen bands. The Evening Express said that the “street performers wowed the crowds”.
The day was a great success with many people enjoying the chance to sun themselves while listening to the delights that only AIYF can offer. The weather held off…just only those remaining at Union Terrace Gardens – which went on after for a couple hours after the other venues – got a bit wet. The rest of the day was flooded in beautiful sunshine.
So overall a great day which gave everyone the chance to experience something new – not just that afternoon but in the evening as many people who hadn’t heard of the Festival before went on to attend shows later that evening.
Festival in the City was supported by BP & Event Scotland
Monday, 4 August 2008
Festival in the City
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
The Start Of AIYF 2008!
And it’s begun. The 36th Aberdeen International Youth Festival has started. Over the next two weeks there will be Opera, Dance, Steel Drums and much much more. With over a thousand participants from a number of countries this promises to be a truly world wide festival.
And what a way to start. John Godber’s Teechers, is a school-based comedy written from the point of view of three students, Salty, a bright and fresh-faced school-leaver; Hobby, a shy girl and Gail Saunders, a loud mouthed, bossy girl who is full of enthusiasm. These three friends then spend the next hour performing a play about their final year of school – with all the names change to protect the innocent of course!
It is this that makes the show stand out from so many other things. Between the three of them, the actors play up to twenty characters – with often only basic costume changes taking place. The characters of Mr Basford, for example, is created through the use of a fake nose and glasses combo that you only ever really see in cartoons. All three actors play their multiply parts with great skill.
However, AIYF is not all about one play, there are more coming just around the corner. West Lothian Youth Theatre present their civil war torn future of central Scotland (Lemon Tree Studio, 31st July & 1st August) or perhaps you’d rather hear the Jazz sound of NYCOS at Holburn West Church (31st July)…or go to www.aiyf.org and look through all our shows!
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