European Union Youth Orchestra

The **European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO)**, founded in 1976 by Joy and Lionel Bryer, is a renowned cultural ambassador for the European Union. Initially known as the European Community Youth Orchestra, it was renamed in 1994 following the establishment of the European Union. The orchestra serves as a bridge between music colleges and the professional music world, providing talented young musicians from across Europe with the opportunity to perform together. Over the years, EUYO has collaborated with legendary conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Leonard Bernstein, and Herbert von Karajan. The orchestra has performed extensively throughout the world, including in every EU member state by 2013. Despite facing financial challenges in 2016, EUYO continued to operate after securing renewed funding support from the EU. In recent years, the orchestra has relocated first to Italy in response to Brexit and more recently to Austria in 2023.

EUYO's mission extends beyond its performances, including initiatives like the "Towards 2020" project, aimed at engaging 21st-century audiences. The orchestra's alumni have gone on to join prominent orchestras worldwide, such as the London Symphony and the Berlin Philharmonic. Some of their notable recent releases include interpretations of works by Richard Strauss and Richard Causton. The orchestra is currently led by Chief Conductor Vasily Petrenko, with Bernard Haitink as Conductor Laureate.

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