2006 - Our 25th Anniversary

19th March 2006 marks the start of a year of celebration for the CVYO to mark our 25th Anniversary.

Twenty-five years since the Orchestra was founded by Nigel Hildreth

Anniversary Events

The first Anniversary event: the cermonial cutting and sharing of a special Birthday Cake at the rehearsal before the Concert for Parents on the 19th March.

Well known local composer Alan Bullard has been commissioned to write a special new work for the two orchestras. He has called it Colne Valley Variations.

There was a special Anniversary Gala Concert at 2.30 in Colchester Moot Hall on Sunday 17 September, at which Alan Bullard's Colne Valley Variations was given its first public performance.

Reunion. The Gala Concert was also be an opportunity for former orchestra members and friends to meet up again at the buffet lunch to reminisce and catch up with current news. Some even brought their instruments and took part in the performance.

Post-concert report - the Gala Concert did indeed go extremely well. After the morning rehearsal, there was a very enjoyable lunch at which present and past orchestra members socialised and reminisced, aidedby the copious photos and other memorabilia recalling past triumphs!

Then a capacity audience of over 200 hugely enjoyed the rich and exciting sound the orchestras produced at the concert itself, augmented as they were by so many past members (including even one founder member). The first piece was Nigel Hildreth's Celebration Overture, chosen to mark not only our own 25th anniversary, but also dedicated to Sir Malcolm Arnold to mark his 85th. The TO joined the MO for the first public performance, in the composer's presence, of Alan Bullard's specially commissioned Colne Valley Variations, in six movements, some celebratory, others reflective but all interesting and attractive. It was fun to see each of our four Musical Directors taking turns at conducting the different movements.As Nigel said, this is likely to figure in our repertoire for many years to come.

At the end of the concert, the Mayor of Colchester presented the Malcolm Arnold Trophy to cellist Catherine Wheeler (congratulations Cathrine!), and on behalf of everyone involved with the CVYO, Nigel hmself was presented with a very special Mollard baton in a handsome inscribed presentation case as a mark of our deep appreciation of all the work he has put in over 25 years to create and sustain the CVYO for the benefit and enjoyment of our young musician and their families. PJB

Dedication. Our Honorary President Sir Malcolm Arnold was due to celebrate his 85th birthday during our Anniversary Year (21 October), so by way of birthday greetings we were pleased to dedicate to him a piece of music (Nigel Hildreth's A Celebration Overture) performed at the Gala Concert in September.

Loss. It is with great sadness that we heard, just one week after our Gala Concert, of the death of Sir Malcolm Arnold, the Honorary President (now Past President) of the Colne Valley Youth Orchestra.  He had taken an interest in the orchestra and had attended performances by us of his works. 

 His creative contribution in terms of wonderful music and a sense of humour will be missed.  We will continue to perform his music and his name lives on in the annual “Malcolm Arnold Trophy” given to the member who has made not only musical but also social contributions to the orchestra.