Russian Dreams

Chamber Groups of the Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra

Artistic Director: Ayis Ioannides
Soloist: Sotiris Chrysostomou (trombone)

Programme: Works by Tchaikovsky, Borodin, Korsakov and others

The Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra was founded by cabinet decision in 1987 as Cyprus Youth State Orchestra, along with the Cyprus State Chamber Orchestra. As from January 2007, its administration was undertaken by the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra Foundation. The Orchestra gives two to three concerts a year, often appearing as specialist groups, such as symphonic wind orchestra or chamber music ensembles. It performs regularly on official occasions and has provided programmes at such events as the prize giving ceremony of the European Schools' Competition, the opening of the State Educational Fair, the Euro-Mediterranean Forum of UNESCO and the 4th International Cyprological Congress and the ceremony to mark 50 years of Education in Cyprus. An activity of paramount importance is the annual International Summer Academy, organized at the high mountain resort of Pedoulas, with the participation of students from many countries under the guidance of highly qualified teachers of international standing. The international youth symphony orchestra which is constituted and trained at the Summer Academy has already given highly acclaimed concerts at the International Kypria 2007, 2008 and 2009 Festivals. In August 2010 it participated in the 1st International Festival of Youth Orchestras that was organized in Istanbul, Cultural Capital of Europe 2010. Since 1990 the Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra has been supported by the Music Workshop which offers talented young musicians free individual tuition by select instrumental pedagogues on all orchestral instruments.

Through his thirty year long international experience Ayis Ioannides, Artistic Director of the Cyprus State Youth Orchestra, has conducted a wide spectrum of musical genres and has universally received high critical acclaim both as conductor and composer. As Artistic Director and Conductor he distinguished himself at the International Kypria Festival 2004 with the acclaimed opera production Caterina Cornaro and at the International Kypria Festival 2006 with the concerts Mozart and Shostakovich - a birthday dedication. As Artistic Director of the Cyprus Youth Symphony orchestra, he conducted the Orchestra at the Kypria International Festivals 2007, 2008 and 2009, with the programmes Giants of the North, Mature Youngsters and Shakespeare Inspires, respectively. For ten years he was conductor at German opera houses. He has been Chief Conductor of the Vaasa City Orchestra in Finland and the first Artistic Director of the Cyprus State Chamber and Youth Orchestras. After obtaining a doctorate degree with specialization in neurophysiology, he studied in London at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the National Opera Studio, and he participated in master classes in Austria, the Netherlands and Germany. Especially important was the experience he gained under the maestros George Hurst, Vilem Tausky, Helmut Rilling and Sergiu Celibidache, a leading musical personality of the second half of the 20th century. Outside Cyprus his compositions have been performed in Egypt, Austria, France (International Pablo Casals Festival), Germany, Finland, Sweden and the U.S.A. Especially successful was the world premiere in January 2006 of his Trio for Violin, Violoncello and Piano, commissioned by the Vienna Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde (Musikverein)