To celebrate the legacy of one of the most admired music educators of our time, the Sydney Youth Orchestra (SYO) is renaming one of its youth orchestras to the Richard Gill Chamber Orchestra.
Richard was a strong believer that “every child should have the opportunity to learn and create music” and it is this that we wish to celebrate and ensure Richard’s legacy lives on.
Richard Gill was the Chief Conductor at SYO from 1977 -1982 and had not only a life changing impact on the musicians that he connected with but also a profound impact on the highly successful orchestral training program that SYO has today.
This year SYO celebrates 40 years since Richard Gill started the “Babies Proms” program at the Sydney Opera House with The Sydney Youth Orchestra, a program that lives on today with our partnership with the Sydney Opera House and the Kids Music Café.
In recognition of his contribution to SYO, Stage 4 Strings will now be known as the Richard Gill Chamber Orchestra. This orchestra literally sits at the heart of the SYO Orchestral Training Framework, where it functions as the pinnacle of ten young string-only orchestras and the beginning of four full symphony orchestras including The Sydney Youth Orchestra. In essence, the orchestra is where young musicians have their first full orchestral experience.
James Pensini, Head of Orchestral Training, says “We could not think of a better way to celebrate this amazing man and his influence on our organisation. We are truly grateful to Richard’s family for agreeing to SYO honouring Richard in this way. The orchestra is currently conducted by the amazing Kate Morgan and we know that she and the young players now and into the future are thrilled to ensure that Richard’s legacy continues.”
Maureen Gill, Richard’s wife says, “We are delighted to celebrate in a lasting way all the incredible things that Richard did for Sydney Youth Orchestras and more generally for youth and music in Australia. Thank you.”
The only other orchestra in the organisation that is named after anyone is the Peter Seymour Orchestra – in honour of Peter’s role in founding SYO. SYO currently has fourteen orchestras and educates over 550 students each week in orchestral music making, plus around 500 more through our outreach (non-core) programs.
Kate Morgan, who has strong ties to the Gill family and performed within numerous orchestras under Richard’s baton, will be the inaugural conductor to lead this orchestra.
“It’s been a real pleasure to talk to the current young cohort of musicians about Richard and his influence on the music landscape of Australia. A few of them know him from his time on ‘Spicks and Specks’, which was a wonderful way to show his knowledge, charm and humour, but beyond that, we wouldn’t be where we are today without him – championing the right to access a music education in our sport driven society. This orchestra is exactly the kind of age group that Richard would wish to see be inspired into music making. Richard and I share the common goal of bringing the joy, and multiple benefits of music making to the youth of today and I am passionate about continuing that legacy. I am sure these young musicians would make Richard proud”.
SYO is currently accepting applications to audition for their 14 various ensembles and orchestras, for young musicians aged 6 to 25. Applications close Wednesday September 1, 2021. Apply now via http://www.syo.com.au/join
Featured : Kate Morgan leading the Richard Gill Chamber Orchestra