Young Mannheim Symphonists | 2024 National Academy
13 July, 2024, Alfred Felton Hall, Melbourne, VIC
From the first punchy Beethoven chords to the joyful finale of Schubert’s Symphony No.9, ‘The Great’, the final concert of the Young Mannheim Symphonists 2024 National Academy on Saturday 13 July, proved a triumph for both the young musicians and the ensemble guiding them: the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra (ARCO).
“I’ve had the time of my life this week,” said one participant. “I feel very, very lucky I got to be here. Such a wonderful and valuable experience!”
Held in the intimacy of the Alfred Felton Hall at Melbourne Grammar School’s Grimwade campus and conducted by Rachael Beesley, the 90-minute concert was the conclusion of a week’s music-making and learning at the YMS National Academy, one of three Academies given each year by the orchestra. Through tutorials, workshops, and side-by-side rehearsals with ARCO expert professionals, young musicians aged 15-23 explored repertoire from the 18th and 19th centuries, diving into the expressive techniques and emotions of historically informed performance (HIP).
“We’re immensely proud of these young musicians,” said conductor Rachael Beesley, co-artistic director of both YMS and ARCO. “They’ve worked extremely hard to learn new interpretations based on early recordings and historical treatises. They have been challenged to play with creativity and true collaboration rather than just playing the notes on the page. The result is incredible.”
With 52 high school and tertiary participants, this YMS 2024 National Academy (residential at Melbourne Grammar School) was the biggest ever in the 10-year-old program. They came from all corners of the country, from Cairns to Hobart and Sydney to Perth. One young violinist even came from New Zealand for the chance to play in the region’s only national HIP youth orchestra.
The result was inspiring for orchestra and audience alike – including those listening around the world via the Australian Digital Concert Hall livestream. Under Beesley’s energetic direction, the young musicians danced their way through Beethoven’s Overture to the Creatures of Prometheus, bringing out the “lightning and thunder from the gods” as introduced by violinist Johnny Kelly (one of two participants to give spoken program notes).
Playing on historical instruments to truly explore the sound world of the period is a unique part of Young Mannheim Symphonists. String players experimented with gut strings, creating a shimmery sound with gutsy articulation in the bass section and wistful portamenti in the violins. Horns, trumpets and trombones were all natural (no valves), and the resulting brass sound was a lush smorgasbord of timbres from earthly raw to divinely sweet.
In the Schubert (introduced by flautist Belinda Wong), multiple themes in the first movement were ushered in with creative freshness; melodic genius was unearthed in the Andante con moto, the Scherzo and Trio had rollicking humour, and the Finale soared to a powerful finish.
“It’s been a wonderful week of learning,” added co-artistic director Nicole van Bruggen. “Each young musician has made enormous progress artistically and personally, making friends that will last them a lifetime and discovering career pathways. It’s a huge success.”
And already the feedback, like Schubert’s dramatic symphony, is rolling in.
“YMS is different from any other youth orchestra program,” another participant summed up. “No other camp has the same historical perspective. It is incredible to learn about these things in an environment where I can immediately apply them.”
Auditions will open in September for the 2025 Young Mannheim Symphonist programs, which include the National Academy in July and State Academy in October. Details at arco.org.au/yms.
Rosemary Ponnekanti
