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News Release

Last modified: Tuesday, April 10, 2012

European Union Youth Orchestra communicates through music at IU Auditorium

WHAT: European Union Youth Orchestra
WHEN: 7 p.m. Sunday, April 22
WHERE: IU Auditorium, 1211 E. Seventh St. in Bloomington
TICKETS: $15 to $29 for IU Bloomington students with a valid ID and for children and $29 to $49 for general public, on sale now. Individual tickets may be purchased online at IUauditorium.com, in person at the IU Auditorium Box Office, as well as through Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone at 800-745-3000. The IU Auditorium Box Office is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2012

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The European Union Youth Orchestra, an ensemble of Europe's finest young musicians, will perform its Bloomington debut concert at IU Auditorium at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 22.

Founded by Joy Bryer in 1976 under the auspices of the International Youth Foundation of Great Britain, the European Union Youth Orchestra is the only cultural project to include musicians from all 27 European Union member countries, a symbol of European harmony and future hope.

The ensemble, composed of 116 musical prodigies, provides European musicians age 14 to 24 with the opportunity to play in an orchestra that bridges all cultural, social, economic, religious and political barriers and performs globally as a cultural ambassador for the EU.

More than 90 percent of EUYO musicians go onto professional careers in music. EUYO alumni who continued their musical excellence professionally include cellist Mario Brunello, winner of the Tchaikovsky Prize; composer/conductor Derek Gleeson, who is music director of the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra; and Zsolt-Tihamér Visontay, who at 24 was the youngest person ever to be appointed joint concert master of the London-based Philharmonia Orchestra.

Bryer believes EUYO's 14-day North American concert tour is a timely one: "Just like the Olympics, music can be a profoundly uplifting and life-transforming experience, by bringing together the best performers and showing to the world what you can achieve if you have talent, passion and dedication. This is what the American dream is all about, and I am proud to show that the youth of Europe also have what it takes to fulfill that dream, even in these difficult economic times."

Conducted by six-time Grammy Award-winning pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy, the orchestra will perform Richard Strauss' "An Alpine Symphony, Op. 64," which depicts the experiences of 11 hours spent climbing an Alpine mountain through 22 continuous sections of music; Aaron Copland's "An Outdoor Overture"; and Max Bruch's "Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26."

Unique to the performance at IU Auditorium is the addition of leading violinist Mark Kaplan, a professor at IU's Jacobs School of Music. Kaplan's consummate artistry has resulted in solo engagements with nearly every major American orchestra, including the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the symphony orchestras of Cincinnati and Indianapolis. He will perform the Bruch violin concerto with the orchestra. Also accompanying the European talents are three local string students: violinist Alexander Boissonnault, violinist Nicholas Drumm and violist Dan Stone.

"The European Union Youth Orchestra returns to the United States for the first time since 1988, and we are honored to be one of three universities to host the talented musicians and international treasure Maestro Vladimir Ashkenazy," IU Auditorium director Doug Booher said. "As Bloomington is such a strong supporter of classical music, audience members will instantly connect with the incredibly talented members of the orchestra through their flawless performance of three great works by Copland, Strauss and Bruch."

The IU European Union Center is hosting a number of events to celebrate Europe Day and the EUYO's visit. IU students are invited to "Meet and Eat With the EU Youth Orchestra" from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at McNutt North Dining Hall. This event will allow IU students to meet and mingle with people their age from the 27 EU member states. While not required, interested students are encouraged to register online. This event is sponsored by the IU European Union Center, the Global Village Living and Learning Center, Foster International Living and Learning Center, and Residential Programs and Services.

Following the EUYO performance at IU Auditorium will be a reception at the IU Art Museum commemorating Europe Day. The reception will include remarks by Minister Counselor Ida Heimann Larsen of the Royal Danish Embassy to the United States (Denmark currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union), a meet-and-greet with members of the EUYO and information about EU Center activities aimed at educating Midwesterners about European affairs. This event is sponsored by the IU European Union Center, IU Art Museum and the IU West European Studies Center. These programs are funded through a grant from the European Commission.

For more information about the European Union Youth Orchestra and the rest of the 2011-12 season, visit IUauditorium.com. The website features video clips and a selection of songs from this season's performances, in addition to a direct link to the IU Auditorium Facebook page and Twitter feed, whose followers receive exclusive benefits throughout the year.

European Union Youth Orchestra at IU Auditorium is sponsored by the IMU, WTIU and WFIU. IU Auditorium's 2011-12 season is presented by Curry Auto Center, B97, the Herald-Times, IU Document Service Centers and IU Residential Programs and Services.

The EUYO Spring Tour 2012 is supported by the European Union, the 27 EU member states, the Friends of the British Council and the British Council.

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