Tickets go on sale for youth arts festival.

Aberdeen International Youth Festival (AIYF), one of the world’s leading celebrations of youth arts, has announced that tickets for performances in Aberdeen’s main venues have been released for general sale today (Monday 19 April).

Following a ten day priority booking period for members of the AIYF Friends, a total of eleven performances that will be hosted in His Majesty’s Theatre, the Music Hall and the Lemon Tree are now on sale to the general public.

Performances include many of the musical, dramatic and dance highlights of AIYF 2010 such as the Festival Dance Gala on Thursday 5 August and the ever-popular International Variety Gala on Saturday 7 August that will take place at HMT. Music Hall performances now on sale include the Welcome Ceremony on Thursday 29 July, an evening with the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra featuring Soprano Lisa Milne on Friday 30 July, and A Serenade to Music on Sunday 1 August – a choral recital featuring the works of Vaughan Williams. Performances by the Scottish contemporary dance group, Project Y, and the Mitchell School of Drama are now on sale at the Lemon Tree Studio.

Aberdeen International Youth Festival has long been one of the world’s leading participatory youth festivals and 2010 will see musicians, dancers and theatre acts showcase their talents over a 10 day period running from 28 July to 7 August.

AIYF Chief Executive, Stewart Aitken, said: “I am delighted to make some of our key shows available sooner than we have been able to in the past. With more than 70 unique acts from across the world now signed up, AIYF promises to be one of the Festival’s most exciting and diverse years.”

The Aberdeen International Youth Festival 2010 runs from July 28 until August 7.
Tickets for AIYF are available from Aberdeen Box Office on 01224 641122 or online at www.boxofficeaberdeen.com

For the most up to date programme information visit www.aiyf.org

AIYF 2010 Residency Courses Now Open!

Hi everyone,

We are pleased to announce that the residency opportunities for AIYF 2010 are now available. They will give participants the chance to improve your talents and work with some of the best artists from around the world.

Balmoral Splore Traditional Music School: 2 - 6 August 2010

Splore is aimed at musicians between the ages of 12 – 16. It gives young musicians the chance to explore and develop their skills in traditional music. All participants must be grade 2 or above. Classes will be taught in fiddle, whistle, guitar, accordion, piano, clarsach and percussion along with other instruments depending of Splore numbers and time.

For more information or to apply please click here.

Ceol Mor Trad Music Big Band: 30 Jul – 7 Aug 2010

Ceol Mor is AIYF’s trad big music band. It consists of some of the most promising musicians from Scotland and North America. They perform unique arrangements of trad Scottish music by mixing it with different, exciting, musical styles.

The band will have a 9 day residency at the 2010 AIYF, including a week of rehearsals and gigs in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, including a performance at His Majesty’s Theatre.

Ceol Mor is open to musicians aged 16 – 26, grade 5 and above.

For more information or to apply please click here.

Dance Lab: 27 Jul – 5 Aug 2010

Dance Lab gives young dancers of varying levels the chance to explore dance styles indepth with leading tutors from Scotland and across the globe. It consists of three master classes and a youth option listed below:

• Master Class 1: 27 – 29 Jul 2010 with Robert Lori
• Master Class 2: 30 Jul – 1 Aug 2010 with Scottish Ballet
• Master Class 3: 2 – 5 Aug 2010 with Andy Howitt Artistic Director of Y-Dance
• Young Dance Lab, is open to dancers aged 8 - 14 and gives younger dancers the chance to learn different dance styles and stimulate their imaginations.

For more information on either Dance Lab or to apply please click here.

Chamber Music Project: 2 – 6 Aug 2010

The AIYF Chamber Music Project is new to 2010 and gives musicians the chance to work with The Hebrides Ensemble (www.hebridesensemble.org.uk) and Director Will Conway. There are 20 places available in the Chamber Music Project with no accommodation or tuition fees.

For more information or to apply please click here.