The Youth Orchestra of The Netherlands (YON) consists of approximately 85 talented youngsters between the ages of 14 and 20 years, from all parts of the country.
They share passion and flair, enthousiasm and courage. For many members, YON is a stimulus to go for a career as a professional musician. And for youngsters with a different ambition, YON offers a perfect opportunity for further musical development.
Guided by the renowned conductor Jurjen Hempel, YON plays the big symphonic works from the romantic orchestral repertoire. But the orchestra is also receptive to modern, experimental music and it does not turn its back on a cross-over with light music.
First and foremost, YON strives for making music together at a high level. During rehearsal times, the members work enthousiastically on a fully fledged concert programme. Much attention is paid to technique, repertoire, interpretation and style. YON is an important school for performance in an orchestra in The Netherlands.
Three projects a year
Every year, there are three intensive projects. The projects take place in weekends and during the holidays: Christmas, Easter, and summer holidays. In this way, the orchestra members can carry on making music with other orchestras and ensembles. During a project, the music is rehearsed intensively. The members are expected to have studied their parts thoroughly at home. A project is concluded by a series of concerts in excellent, large concert halls nationwide.
Every year, YON performs at the children's edition of the Prinsengracht Canal Festival in Amsterdam. Together with a famous pop artist, the young classical musicians perform a popular work. Every year in the summer holidays, YON goes on tour in Europe. Usually one or several festivals are visited then. The tour includes six to eight concerts and ends in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw.