Music Workshop

The Music Workshop of the Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra was established in the early 1990’s with the purpose of fulfilling an urgent need in the training of young musicians to perform orchestral instruments. It was initially organized by the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture with the support of a nongovernmental organization, the Fund for Music and Fine Arts. A few years later its administration and financing were entirely taken over by Cultural Services and as from 2007 it has passed, along with the Youth Symphony Orchestra into the hands of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra Foundation.

Selected applicants at an age suitable for beginning on each instrument, after preliminary screening, are offered scholarships and are taught by experienced instructors, mostly chosen from the ranks of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra.  A system is being developed whereby permanently engaged visiting professors of international standing give intensive courses at regular intervals.

There are classes in all orchestral instruments with student numbers reflecting the proportions of instruments participating in a symphony orchestra. At the moment the total number of scholars is around 100 and there are plans to expand considerably the strings department through the expansion of the Strings Workshop.

During the academic year each class presents a number of class concerts.