Australian Youth Orchestra with Andrey Gugnin

AYO Andrey Gugnin - photo by Anna ShlykovaThe Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO) will present two exclusive concerts in Sydney and Brisbane this July featuring 2016 Sydney International Piano Competition winner Andrey Gugnin alongside their flagship ensemble.

There is no mistaking the opening bars of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1 – it has been a favourite in concert halls around the globe for over a century. AYO with Gugnin will present a dazzlingly fresh performance of this beloved work, brimming with charming Russian folk melodies.

Conducted under the baton of Courtney Lewis, the concert will open with one of Benjamin Britten’s most powerful works, Sinfonia da requiem, followed by Rachmaninov’s driving Symphonic Dances – a staple piece amongst traditional orchestral repertoire. In an unusual twist, the Orchestra will also feature a talented young saxophonist within its woodwind section.

An internationally renowned pianist, Gugnin was the winner of the 2016 Sydney International Piano Competition. He has performed as a recitalist, chamber music partner and soloist with orchestras in over 20 countries and has played in iconic venues such as the Louvre, Carnegie Hall, Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Concert Hall and Vienna’s Musikverein.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to see the country’s best young talent as they present an exhilarating display of orchestral masterpieces,” said Colin Cornish, Australian Youth Orchestra CEO. “Combined with the fresh and dynamic approach of our two guest artists, this exciting performance will showcase the power and brilliance of a young symphony orchestra.”

Australian Youth Orchestra with Andrey Gugnin
Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street, Sydney
Performance: Saturday 14 July 2018 – 7.30pm
Bookings: www.ayo2018.eventbrite.com.au

Concert Hall – Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), South Bank
Performance: Monday 16 July 2018 – 7.30pm
Bookings: www.qpac.com.au

For more information, visit: www.ayo.com.au for details.

Image: Andrey Gugnin – photo by Anna Shlykova