INTRODUCTION
Talent development for ‘the next generation’ of classical musicians in the Symphonic Wind Orchestra.
Sousa is synonymous for wind band music. Academy is the original name of one’s own training institute. Sousa Academy translates as school for the Sousa Tribute Band. Where one is taught to play in our orchestra. The ‘step-in-between’ from education at a Conservatory of Music to the domain of professional wind band music.
Background: reason why
Conservatories of Music do offer classes in orchestral performance for the Symphony Orchestra as developed in Germany in 1740, but not for the Wind Orchestra as developed in The Netherlands in 1770. In 1957, the National Youth (Symphony) Orchestra NL (NJO) was founded in order to gain experience in performance within the Symphony Orchestra. In 1985, the National Youth Harmony Orchestra NL (NJHO) was founded in order to gain experience in performance within the Symphonic Wind Orchestra. The latter was dissolved in 2010 due to cutbacks.
Current developments
A few weeks ago, the National Government in The Netherlands signaled it’s intention to withdraw all financial support for talent development programs in the sector of classical music, including the National Youth Orchestras and the four yearly World Music Contest (WMC) in Kerkrade.
In response, we have decided to set up a junior orchestra within the existing structure of the Sousa Tribute Band Foundation in the Sousa Academy and realize this immediately. We have named it the National Youth Concert Band NL (NYCB.nl). The objective, approach and content are the same as those of the former NJHO.
For more, see https://nycb.nl/en/homepage.