ALUMNI TALES

We ask some of our alumni to remember what it was like to play with the EUYO (or its forerunner, the European Community Youth Orchestra). Below we hear from Derek Gleeson - click on the names in the left hand column to read more profiles.

Derek Gleeson (Ireland) was in the ECYO in its early years (1980-1983, 1985) as a percussionist and is now Conductor and Music Director of the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra. He tells us about some of his memories and experiences in the Orchestra.

What did it mean to you to be selected for the ECYO at such a young age?

I was fifteen when I auditioned and sixteen when I went on my first tour. Back then there were only nine countries, so the pool of candidates was considerably smaller. It was life changing for me and I'm quite certain that I would not have become the conductor I am today had it not been for that experience.

What was your favourite aspect of the tours?

The music, first and foremost, but there was also a fantastic social life. It was not only a great learning experience; it was also just plain fun! When I joined in 1980, it was really a novelty; it has now become more of a rite of passage and some may even take it for granted, but at the time, there was just nothing else like it. There were always great receptions and everyone felt they were superstars.

How do you feel you have benefited from or been inspired by your time in the ECYO?

The experience of playing under conductors like Claudio Abbado and Daniel Barenboim was a complete revelation as to what conducting can be! It opened my eyes to how the greatest conductors work; you become the music and inspire the musicians to rise above what it is that they think that they are capable of doing.

From your current perspective as an orchestral conductor and music director, do you have any words of wisdom for players setting out on a career as orchestral musicians?

I would say: expand your musical horizons as much as you can. The reality for many players is that the EUYO turns out to be the best orchestral experience of their lives - there is just such a high standard and level of focus on the music, and plenty of time to rehearse - ironically it's sometimes hard to live up to that level of playing once you're in a professional orchestra. Orchestral playing is a great career for ten years, while you learn the key repertoire - but don't be blinkered into thinking you can only be an orchestral player. Think of chamber music, composing, conducting; there are so many more ways that you can enhance and enrich your musical experience.