World Youth Orchestra Brochure

2. WORLD YOUTH ORCHESTRA
UNICEF GoodwillAmbassador
from 2002 to 2011
Medal and Silver Plaque of the
President of the Italian Republic
Founder&MusicDirector:
Damiano Giuranna
DiplomaticBoard
Ambassadors:
HassanAbouyoub, Christian Berlakovits,
Sergio Busetto, Elio Menzione,
Giampiero Massolo, SaschaQuaroni,
Pietro Sebastiani, Riccardo Sessa,
ReinhardSchäfers, Marcello Spatafora,
Michael Steiner
ArtisticBoard
Roger Argente - Trinity College
James Creitz - Staatlische Hochschule
für Musik Trossingen
Damiano Giuranna - MusicaEuropa
Wolfgang Redik – Universität
Mozarteum Salzburg

3. The World Youth Orchestra has been founded in 2001 by Damiano Giuranna and it is
composed by the best students from Universities, Academies and Conservatories of
the five continents. In July 2002 the Orchestra has been appointed UNICEF Goodwill
Ambassador and in 2003 it has received the Medal and Silver Plaque of the President
of the Italian Republic for outstanding cultural and social activities.
Thanks to its international representation and commitment in witnessing ideals of
peace and brotherhood, supporting the development of the artistic talent of young
musicians, the World Youth Orchestra has obtained support from many eminent
personalities: the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, the President
of the European Union, the Secretary General of the European Council.
The World Youth Orchestra project is a workshop of human, artistic and social
experiences, where a peculiar work on integration, based on the reciprocal
knowledge is carried out. Music as a universal language is the first link uniting young
people coming from wealthy or disadvantaged countries. The discovery of a different
from one own life style and a shared and common work become the glue for fostering
friendship, the comprehension of reciprocal diversities and the joy to live together.
The young musicians of the World Youth Orchestra, representing the five continents,
are live witnesses of our commitment and through their art they bring all over the
world a new message of friendship.

4. strengthening multi cultural and human
The World Youth values through the universal language of
music.
Orchestra (WYO)
has been founded in The WYO has collaborated with
musicians working at: Teatro della Scala,
2001 by Damiano Accademia di S.Cecilia, Teatro
dell'Opera di Roma, Orchestre Suisse
Giuranna. Romande, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, I
Musici, Berliner Philarmoniker, and from
In July 2002 the Orchestra has been important Academies and
appointed UNICEF Goodwill Conservatories such as Juilliard
Ambassador and in 2003 it has received School/Manhattan School, Mozarteum
the Medal and Silver Plaque of the Salzburg, Conservatoire National
President of the Italian Republic. Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de
Lyon, Royal Academy of Music London.
Thanks to its international representation The WYO has performed in important
and to the strength in witnessing ideals music institutions and Festivals in Italy
of peace, brotherhood and youth, the and in Europe, conducted by Douglas
World Youth Orchestra has obtained Boyd, Alan Buribayev, William Eddins
support from many personalities of pre- and Damiano Giuranna.
eminent world institutions: the Secretary
General of the United Nations, Kofi Some musicians who have played in the
Annan, the President of the European Orchestra in the past years have then
Union, the Secretary General of the resulted winners at prestigious
European Council. The young musicians International competitions and now play
of the World Youth Orchestra, in important orchestras such as the
representing the five continents, embody Berliner Philharmoniker, London
these ideals, bringing a new message of Philharmonic Orchestra, Birmingham
brotherhood to the world. The projects Philharmonic Orchestra, Israel
managed by MusicaEuropa include Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra
high-level training, participation in dell’Accademia di S. Cecilia, Chicago
international musical events, music Symphony Orchestra, Das Luzerner
master classes held my well known Sinfonieorchester, Orchestra del Teatro
music professors and musicians, alla Scala.

5. In 2003 the World Youth Orchestra has
participated to a project fostering
dialogue and brotherhood in the
Mediterranean area called “World Youth
Orchestra – Mediterranean Tour.” The
Project gathered the contribution and
collaboration of the Italian Presidency of
the Council of Ministers, the Italian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Province of Rome, besides important
local institutions and companies. Under
the baton of Damiano Giuranna 14
concerts were held from December 2003
in Rome at the Auditorium Parco della
Musica, in Florence as guest of the City
Council, at the Taormina Arte Festival, in
Genoa as part of the world conference,
"Children and the Mediterranean”
(inaugural ceremonies as one of two
European Culture Capitals in 2004). The
orchestra also performed in Israel guest
by the Rubin Academy of Jerusalem and
in Ramallah, Palestine, guest of the
Ministry of Culture.
musical event at the United Nations in
The “World Youth Orchestra – New York. The event -part of the World
Mediterranean Tour” continued in July Tour 2005 - celebrated the 60th
2004 with concerts in prestigious Anniversary of the United Nations and
festivals and archaeological sites in welcomed the new UNICEF Executive
Jordan, Palestine and Israel. Director. Representatives of pre-eminent
world institutions have given their
In June 2005, the World Youth support to the project including: the
Orchestra toured in Italy with General Secretary of the United Nations,
performances in Rome and in Reggio Kofi Annan, the President of the
Emilia at the Teatro Valli. The WYO has European Union, and the General
been invited by the UNICEF Secretary of the European Council.
International Board and the Permanent
Mission of Italy to the United Nations to
perform in a prestigious

6. In July 2006 the Orchestra performed in Bridges” financed by the European
Italy at Villa Adriana in Tivoli, in Tunisia Union. For this project the opera “Il
at the Festival of Symphonic Music – El matrimonio segreto” by Cimarosa has
Jem Ampitheatre, and in Algeria in the been staged in Turkey with a very good
National Algerian Theatre, in vocal cast composed by young and very
collaboration with the Ministry of Culture talented singers conducted by M°
of Algeria. Damiano Giuranna. For this project four
performances have been staged in
In July and August 2007 the World Youth Turkey (Ankara, Izmir, Istanbul) and in
Orchestra toured in Turkey with concerts 2010 other performances are foreseen
conducted by M° Damiano Giuranna in Czech Republic and other European
and M° Isin Metin at the Konser Salonu countries.
at the Bilkent University in Ankara, in
Bodrum for the 4th Classical Music In 2010 the World Youth Orchestra
Festival, in Istanbul at the Lufti Kirdar became “Orchestra in residence” of the
Centre, as well as in Germany in Kassel MusicaRiva International Festival. The
for the Kultur Sommer Nordhessen WYO started a collaboration with Isaac
Festival and in Berlin at the Konzerthaus Karabtchevsky as guest conductor.
for the Young Euro Classic Festival.
Alison Balsom and Gülsin Onay played After a great success at the 2012
as soloists. Accademia Nazionale di S.Cecilia
season, the World Youth Orchestra has
The orchestra was awarded a Silver been invited again for the 2013.
Medal and a Silver Plaque by the
President of the Italian Republic for
outstanding cultural and social activities.
In 2008 the Orchestra has performed
concerts in Rome and in Slovenia with in
Ljubljana at the Slovenian Philharmonic
Hall and in Maribor at the Lent Festival
Concert Union Hall. These concerts
were the final step of the Euro-
Mediterranean tour. During the winter
2008 the WYCO has performed
concerts in Piacenza and Rome.
In 2009 the World Youth Orchestra has
participated to a project called “Cultural

7. giovani di talento e raggiunge una qualità
Appreciations artistica di eccellenza senza perdere di vista
la finalità ultima che ne ha ispirato la
“…The very creation of the World Youth fondazione: testimoniare la funzione
Orchestra speaks volumes about the distintiva della musica quale veicolo di
common desire of people on all continents to fratellanza e di unione tra i popoli. A
trascend borders and instead assert their molteplici livelli la World Youth Orchestra -
belief in universal values such as peace, composta da giovani interpreti di diversi
equal rights and human dignity. As UNICEF Paesi, cresciuta grazie al magistero di
Goodwill Ambassador, touring in the name eminenti musicisti italiani e stranieri e
of “dialogue and brotherhood among aperta a occasioni di incontro
diverse cultures”, the Orchestra has done a internazionale - pone al centro della propria
valuable service in spreading this message attività la condivisione di esperienze e
to many parts of the world, including conoscenze.
conflict zones and other troubled places.” Nella convinzione che la cooperazione
Kofi Annan, former United Nations culturale sia momento essenziale per la
Secretary-General crescita delle giovani generazioni, formulo
quindi alla World Youth Orchestra un sentito
I am delighted to lend my support to the augurio per il fruttuoso proseguimento del
World Youth Orchestra. percorso intrapreso.
José Manuel Barroso – President of S.E.Giulio Terzi - Italian Ministry of
the EU Commission Foreign Affairs
Rivolgo un caloroso saluto a tutti i musicisti
che compongono la World Youth Orchestra,
felicemente giunta al decimo anniversario
della sua vita artistica sotto la sapiente
guida del Maestro Damiano Giuranna: in
questa occasione desidero esprimere le mie
più vive congratulazioni per la proficua e
brillante attività svolta, che ha visto
l’Orchestra ospite di prestigiosi
appuntamenti internazionali e protagonista,
attraverso la musica, di un dialogo culturale
e umano in importanti centri, durante le sue
tournées che hanno riscosso grande
apprezzamento e meritato ampio
riconoscimento istituzionale. Vorrei
sottolineare il particolare significato di una
formazione orchestrale che valorizza

8. Une orchestre pour la paix. «Etémoigne que
vivre en paix est possible, en dépit des
différences de croyances, de races, de
langues et de cultures. »
Le Figaro
«…..when the WYO performed……their
enthusiasm spilled over into the tempo and
tones of the music…a wonderful orchestra. ”
Jerusalem Post
“….La World Youth Orchestra instaura un
dialogo tra le civiltà attraverso la
musica….”
Ad-Dustour
A musician from the Shanghai Conservatory
of Music, celebrating his birthday during the
tour, exclaimed “How often in life does it
happen that you celebrate your birthday
with friends from 40 different countries?”
People’s Daily/China
Around 80 music up- and-coming artists
coming from 20 different countries get a
long ovation, thanks to their enthusiasm and
to their great skill. …the emotion involved
the audience in the strong, waving, dynamic
and pleasant sound of “Introduction and
Allegro” for Strings by Elgar. Also “Winter
reveries” Symphony by Tchaikovsky had a
great sound.
Hessische Allgemeinde

9. Countries
represented
2001-2012
Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia,
Austria, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China,
Colombia, Czech Republic, Ecuador,
Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Great Britain,
Greece, Japan, Jordan, Holland,
Honduras, Iran, Israel, Italy, Ireland,
Iceland, Lebanon, Lithuania,
Macedonia, Mexico, Norway, New
Zealand, Palestine, Poland, Portugal,
Russia, Spain, South Africa, South
Korea, El Salvador, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland,
Tunisia, Turkey, Hungary, Ukraine,
USA, Venezuela, Yugoslavia.

10. www.worldyouthorchestra.com
CONTACTS
WYO/MusicaEuropaOffice
Via Suor Celestina Donati,13/b 00167 Rome
Tel: +39.06.89024611
Fax: +39.06.23328917
office@worldyouthorchestra.eu
e.costa@worldyouthorchestra.com