Madam, - I share the concerns of my former colleague Donagh Collins (April 6th) regarding the future of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland. Since 1980, there have been two constituent orchestras of the NYOI, in two age brackets. I was startled to read that the board had decided to merge these two orchestras while cutting the upper age limit from 24 to 21. It is difficult to credit that recruiting enough players of the requisite standard has become a major challenge. Since the 1980s, there has been a staggering increase in the numbers of young people in Ireland learning orchestral instruments. This is reflected in the 74 member-orchestras of the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras.
The board's decision is the more worrying given that there is currently no general manager of the NYOI. In February 2006 I informed the board that I intended to retire as general manager last August, after 11 seasons of voluntary work. I have taken no part in the process of selecting a successor. After 14 months, no one has been appointed to take up the now salaried position of chief executive.
The NYOI has many friends. In Ireland and across Europe goodwill towards it abounds. It has many stakeholders - not just players, past and present, but also funding organisations, tutors, employees, course staff, people working in music education, and a concerned public. All deserve a proper explanation of what has happened to delay an appointment so long and why the decision to merge the orchestras has been taken. Equally, they are entitled to question the future artistic policy as announced.
Let's hope that the Arts Council may now roll up its sleeves, assess the past year and the current position, and help the board in to find alternative policies that will prove constructive for the short and long term. - Yours, etc,
JOANNA CROOKS, Ailesbury Grove, Dublin 16.
Madam, - Like Donagh Collins, I believe the decision to merge two youth orchestras into one cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be seen as "advancing the potential of the NYOI" or "enhancing greatly the lives of young people", as claimed in the board's statement. The reality is that approximately a hundred fewer young musicians will benefit from the experience of playing large-scale symphonic repertoire. For most of the members of the NYSOI, this is their only opportunity to play such music.
It is clear from the announcement that visiting conductors will be used only on an occasional basis. The wonderful standards achieved by the NYSOI have been due to the excellence of the conductors engaged. I have seen at first hand over many years the astonishing effect which working with conductors such as Alexander Anissimov, Eri Klas, the late Albert Rosen and many others has had on our young people. To take away this biannual contact with first-rate international artists is than educational and cultural vandalism.
The point that the NYOI has experienced recent difficulties recruiting players is misleading. Player numbers and standards fluctuate; this is normal. The recent NYSOI course may have had a slightly smaller than usual string section, but the performance at the Helix in January this year was outstanding, and a testament to the determination of the players and staff of the orchestra.
I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had a long and happy association with all the NYOI orchestras, as a member in the early 1980s, as a tutor for more than 10 years, as soloist on the occasion of the orchestra's 21st birthday, and later on a major European tour. One of the high points of my entire professional career remains the NYOI Ring cycle in 2002 - an immense challenge to all involved, and one which gave the orchestra renewed international recognition. It seems alarmingly clear to me today that the vision and imagination which made these wonderful experiences possible has clearly departed from the minds of those charged with the future of this institution. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL D'ARCY, Senior Lecturer in Violin, Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin.
Madam, - I am a member of the National Youth Symphony Orchestra and I was appalled to hear that the junior and senior orchestras were to be amalgamated into one orchestra for members between 14 and 21 years. This is a wrong decision in so many ways: it will limit our repertoire, our experience and our learning (no offence to the younger musicians) and many members, including some of my friends, will have to leave because of the new age limit.
Everybody I have spoken to is extremely disappointed and downhearted by this decision. We all believe that it bad for the development of music in Ireland.
Personally, I am seriously considering pulling out, even though I would hate to do so. - Yours, etc,
AISLING McCARTHY, Lima Lawn, Cork.