Don’t let city youth orchestra die out

COVENTRY has had a youth orchestra for over half a century, providing many wonderful and inspiring musical opportunities for local young musicians.

The orchestra has a proud list of venues it has performed at and places it has toured. It has an even longer list of members, past and present, some of whom have gone on to study music and many of whom still play in amateur orchestras and ensembles today.

At the age of 14, I joined CYO’s flute section in the late 80s. It was my first experience of playing in a full symphony orchestra and I can still remember the excitement; so many people, such a big sound, and the wonderful music! This turned out to be the beginning of my career in music.

I went on to play with the National Youth Orchestra of GB, study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and later at the Academy of Music in Basel, Switzerland. My professional career has taken me to the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, Carnegie Hall and many other wonderful venues throughout the world.

So why is it so important to keep Coventry’s youth orchestra?

It’s easy to think that classical music is a dying art, but kids learn so much more than just how to play instruments! Playing in an orchestra is also about learning to multi-task, something we’re nearly all required to do whatever profession we take up later. This is about classic teamwork and leadership skills. The things we learn through making music together are enormously helpful as life skills later on.

Music has been proven to reduce stress levels and as kids are under increasingly more pressure to achieve, helping them learn to de-stress by making music is invaluable.

Music is an international language, it knows no borders and no boundaries. Through music, we can experience that whatever language, whatever culture; we can find some common ground.

Several of these points can be said about making music in general, however. As a whole, this genre is a small part of the music world, but it has a very long tradition and Britain can boast some world-ranking orchestras. Do we really want this tradition to be lost in Coventry?

If we don’t educate our young people in classical music, audiences will dwindle, and it will be even harder to reach a high enough level to study at a music conservatoire.

Coventry is a city of great cultural diversity, but don’t let one of its oldest traditions die out. The youth orchestra is part of the city’s diversity and should be celebrated!

So Coventry, I thank you for the chance you gave to me all those years ago. And now, if you really consider yourself to be a City of Culture, make sure your youth have access to music; to instrumental lessons and to its historic youth orchestra.

You’re investing in their future! Rebecca Lenton Berlin, Germany

Pity for our Godiva

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