Captain Jack Sparrow and 1980s Big Hair Rock Help Adelaide Youth Orchestras Celebrate in Gala Concert

Captain Jack Sparrow and 1980s big hair rock will help Adelaide Youth Orchestras end 2015 on a high note on November 29, when 250 of South Australia's best young musicians come together on stage for the company's Gala Concert: AdYO Celebrates at Elder Hall.

AdYO's final concert for the year will see all four of the company's orchestras - Adelaide Youth Wind, Adelaide Youth Sinfonia, Adelaide Youth Strings and the flagship Adelaide Youth Orchestra - join forces to present a bumper program of classical crowd-pleasers, including a few surprises.

Under the direction of conductor Peter Handsworth, Adelaide Youth Sinfonia (ages 12 to 20) will get the blood racing with a performance of symphonic highlights from blockbuster Disney film Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End by composer Hans Zimmer, while Adelaide Youth Strings (ages seven to 13) will go from classical music to classic rock with an orchestral arrangement of 1980s pub rock anthem The Final Countdown by Europe, under conductor Martin Butler.

Conducted by Al Kidney, Adelaide Youth Wind Orchestra (ages 13 to 24) will perform Sousa!, an uplifting medley of works by composer John Philip Sousa, dubbed the "American March King" for his marching tunes such as The Stars and Stripes Forever and The Liberty Bell, better known as the theme to Monty Python's Flying Circus.

The flagship Adelaide Youth Orchestra will round out the concert program with a performance of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's masterpiece Scheherazade, conducted by Keith Crellin OAM.

The two and a half hour program also includes famous works such as Karl Jenkins' Palladio, Caccini's Ave Maria, Amazing Grace, Gnossienne No.1 by Erik Satie and Hungarian Dance No. 5 by Brahms, instantly recognisable to any Looney Tunes fan.

AdYO's Artistic Director Keith Crellin said the Gala Concert was the perfect opportunity to experience all four AdYO orchestras on the one program.

"The Gala Concert is truly a spectacle unlike anything else on South Australia's musical calendar," he said.

"It's a great chance for audiences to witness 250 talented young musicians at their absolute best, and four orchestras coming together for a lively and exciting celebration of classical music."

Adelaide Youth Orchestras provides around 250 of South Australia's most talented young musicians with the opportunity to flourish in a vibrant and exciting musical environment.

The company comprises four separate orchestras: Adelaide Youth Strings for primary school aged children, Adelaide Youth Sinfonia for high school and tertiary aged students, Adelaide Youth Wind Orchestra for woodwind, brass and percussion students at high school and tertiary level and the flagship Adelaide Youth Orchestra, made up of about 80 of South Australia's most accomplished musicians aged 12 to 24.

Hand-picked by annual audition, each AdYO member is tutored by professional musicians from the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the SA Police Band and the Elder Conservatorium of Music at The University of Adelaide to nurture their love of orchestra music and ensure performances of the highest quality.

AdYO is currently accepting registrations for auditions for its 2016 intake. Auditions will be on December 5 and 6 and registrations close November 13. For more details, visit: www.adyo.com.au/join

Adelaide Youth Orchestra Gala Concert: AdYO Celebrates 3pm - Sunday, November 29, 2015 Elder Hall, University of Adelaide, North Tce Tickets: $30 adults / $26 concession & Seniors Card / $20 students & children / $28pp for groups 8+ / $80 family (2 adults + 2 children) Bookings through AdYO on 8233 6256 or www.adyo.com.au

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