EXETER

YOUTH

ORCHESTRA

Development for Older Musicians

The Exeter Youth Orchestra (EYO) is a subset of the main Exeter Children’s Orchestra (ECO) . Formally known as the Chamber Orchestra it comprises the older and more experienced members of the orchestra in a more balanced form than the all-inclusive ECO. Such membership currently comprises just 20 players plus our percussion section. With this arrangement of musicians the Youth Orchestra can squeeze into smaller venues and, comprising of more advanced players, perform more challenging music than the full Orchestra.
Membership to the Youth Orchestra is on an invitation-basis with players being selected from the Children’s Orchestra. There is no hard-and-fast rule for getting into it. Players are selected on a case-by-case basis based on a mixture of ability, age, length of service and reliability. 
When another player is needed for the Youth Orchestra the conductor will liaise with the principal musician of the section (flutes, clarinets, brass, violins, cellos, percussion) and with the section tutors. Finally, he will invite the member to join the youth orchestra and notify the committee so that records can be updated.
Anyone may query whether or not their child can join EYO but the ultimate decision lies with the conductor who must consider the greater good. The conductor also reserves the right to drop players whose attendance is poor.