The Blog Itself

Who is behind this page you might ask? My name is Elysia, and this summer, I am travelling and working with the Asian Youth Orchestra. I will be writing about the Rehearsal Camp and World Tour as the AYO members perform across Asia, the US, and Europe. I will be describing daily life on tour, how the orchestra runs, and the people who make up the orchestra on stage and behind the scenes. Please follow along as it is not to be missed!

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Showers

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A typhoon warning sent the stage team and the orchestra scrambling - a decision was made moments ago, to move up tonight's evening concert to the afternoon. But be it five hours earlier than plan, the team  was immediately at work, setting the stage like clockwork. A fully spirited orchestra was ready, on stage at 2:30 p.m. How about the weather's impact on audience attendance? The fact is no thunder or storm will ever match the enthusiasm that the people of Chiayi have showered on the AYO. In no time, crowds filled the concert hall of the Chiayi Cultural Centre. Today was a dress-down concert due to the last-minute changes causing adrenaline to rush. Our orchestra members donned their red polo shirts, not their formal ensemble attire. They looked nicely fired up to play. Then, Mr. Pontzious walked out on stage holding an umbrella over his head. Roars of laughter echoed throughout the hall. All the excitement of the afternoon deserved a special encore to close. Ma...
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Final Curtain Falls

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The AYO 2017 World Tour has come to a close. The final city, host of our last concert, was Brussels, Belgium. At the BOZAR Theatre, our performance under Mr. Pontzious with soloist Sarah Chang was spectacular with all hearts, on stage and off, fusing into one. The standing ovations throughout the hall were enthusiastic and seemed to continue forever. Before going on stage, Mr. Pontzious had a special reminder for us. "Look how far we have come," he said. Only two months ago, we had first arrived at Rehearsal Camp, meeting for the first time with our faculty members and playing our first few notes together. It was a new experience for most, each bringing with us different backgrounds, each appearing to be so different from another. We were unsure of left or right, with circumstances leaving us excited but in awe of what was to come next. And since then? "The orchestra now walks on stage with confidence." First arriving in Chiayi City 2 months ago Ou...
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Performing in Prague

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Time has flown by. From Italy to France to Spain, then back in Italy. Onwards to Switzerland and Italy for the last time, then Germany. Now we are in Prague. We have loved Europe and Brussels will be our last destination after this. Just imagine, only 28 days ago we'd been so eager to try out authentic American hamburgers and cherry Coke in Washington, D.C. That was before our first concert al fresco at Wolf Trap in Virginia. Today, across the Atlantic, we are in the Czech Republic, savoring, in the rain its capital city's romantic charms, including its eclectic assortment of medieval gothic, gilded baroque, stylish art-nouveau, and minimalist cubic structures and buildings. At every turn of Prague's cobblestone street corners, too, from Charles Bridge to Prague Castle and the Old Town Square, one senses a Bohemian air of the melodies of Czech composers Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana. Smetana Hall Municipal House  Smetana Hall, named after th...
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