http://www.alart.org/contemporary-art-aberdeen/
Aberdeen International Youth Festival
The city of Aberdeen is a lively place and is famous for its extensive year-round festivals, including the "Go North" festival, the "aboot Rootin 'festival, music and spoken word Triptych festival and the University of Aberdeen Writers Festival, also known as the "Word" of the festival. But there is another festival which the city celebrated with more fervor than the Aberdeen International Youth Festival.
Also known as The World Festival of Youth Arts, the International Youth Festival in Aberdeen is one of the largest cultural festivals in Scotland and is widely regarded as the premier youth arts festival in the world.
Each year, more than a thousand of the most talented young artists around the world for the troops to Aberdeen International Youth Festival, a prestigious showcase that also offers young people the opportunity to interact with the best professional and other artists in various fields.
This event of great pageantry attracts representatives from over 70 countries each year to Scotland. There are several ticketed events, and an annual parade, outdoor performances and a series of programs on the strip in the community.
There are about 70 general events held throughout the Northeast Scotland, including musical concerts, dance exhibitions and gala events at places of high-flying Aberdeen as Her Majesty's Theatre, the lemon, the music room and numerous other smaller places such as Queen's Cross Church and other churches. A program has also tour holidays to the country folk.
Events include bands music, symphony orchestras, jazz and song recitals, exhibitions world music and ballet, contemporary dance and traditional. A popular attraction is the annual Opera Garden, a radical and acclaimed opera performed by the youth festival participants. As the old saying goes, there's something for everyone and the case of the Aberdeen International Youth Festival, the old saying is oh-so-real.
Festival organizers listed below and four fundamental goals are:
(1) Provide opportunities for talented young performers and artists from around the world to work together and act together in a stimulating international environment.
(2) Provide opportunities for talented young performers
socialize around the world to exchange ideas and learn about another culture through active participation in an artistic enterprise.
(3) To provide the widest possible access for local youth to give performances and workshops to know different cultures and forms of artistic expression.
(4) Raise awareness and help develop and promote the work locally and internationally by and with young people who strive to achieve a high level of excellence.
The Youth Festival was held last August 2 to 12, 2006. The next two scheduled to be staged on 1-11 August 2007 and July 30 to August 9, 2008. The staging in 2007 marks the 35th anniversary of the festival.
Traces Festival of its roots in the late sixties when two youth leaders, the purposes of greater Blyth, then Music Director of the Midland Youth Orchestra, and Lionel Bryer, currently the President of the International Youth Foundation. The duo conceptualized the idea of an international festival that uses music as a force uniting to promote understanding throughout the world. In 1969, the inauguration of the International Youth Orchestra Festival staged in St Moritz, Switzerland.
United Kingdom The first home of the festival in 1973, with festivities that are held both in Aberdeen and London in the next five years. Due to the strong local support in the city of Aberdeen, and its ability to attract audiences around the festival organizers decided to organize the event exclusively in Aberdeen and northeast Scotland beginning in 1979. In addition, the excellent facilities available in Aberdeen allows the festival to broaden its scope to all forms of dance, jazz and choral music. In 1980, the name the event was changed to the Aberdeen International Youth Festival.
Among the most prominent early performers were internationally Festival guests renowned directors Claudio Abbado, Carlo Maria Giulini, Walter Susskind and Leopold Stokowski. This distinguished group of drivers led the Festival Orchestra, a special orchestra that eventually played at the Royal Albert Hall in London and the Edinburgh International Festival in 1978.
Today, youth orchestras, choirs, bands, dance and theater groups from around the world can participate in the Festival by simply sending the organizers of an application form and a recording of a recent performance. All participants, both individuals and groups, must be of an amateur. Should be formed by young people who are not on the age of 25.
There are many ways to participate in the festival – from dance and traditional music summer schools, workshops, street dance, a capella, theater and capoeira, a regional orchestra and a wide range of music projects.
About the Author
Susan Ashby of Aberdeen Singles has travelled extensively around the United Kingdom writing articles on each of the major cities. To read more articles on Aberdeen or for dating in Aberdeen visit http://www.aberdeen-singles.co.uk
performance outside aberdeen art gallery 02/05/08