Tasmanian Youth Orchestras

TYO is delighted to announce the appointment of Thomas (Tom) Rimes to the role of TYO Chief Conductor. Tom will take up this vital artistic leadership role in early 2025, as we commence the celebrations for TYO’s 60th anniversary year. Welcome Tom! Tom brings a wealth of experience across diverse musical settings, having worked extensively across Europe, the United States, China and Australia as an operatic and symphonic conductor and as a composer/arranger of numerous stage works. Growing up in Hobart, Tom trained in choral singing, piano performance and chamber music with a number of outstanding Tasmanian music educators. From 1995, Tom undertook postgraduate studies in orchestral conducting in the USA, working with the Washington National Opera, the New Olivet Baptist Church in Memphis and the Washington Concert Opera; and was awarded the 2006 Georg Solti Foundation prize for an emerging operatic conductor. While living in the US, Tom was regularly invited as a guest conductor to Italian summer opera festivals, in particular the New Opera Festival di Roma and Opera Ischia. A move to Europe followed, where Tom was engaged as a Kapellmeister (staff conductor) for 10 years at opera houses in the German cities of Kassel and Gelsenkirchen. During this time, he continued to undertake guest conducting roles across the US, Germany and China. Parallel to his conducting career, Tom composed numerous large-scale works – including two full-length operas – and many choral compositions. Tom and his family returned to Tasmania in 2019, where he will be familiar to many as the Director of Music at St David’s Cathedral, Director of Music at Sacred Heart College and a regular collaborator with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and TSO Chorus, Terrapin Theatre, Archipelago Productions, the MONA FOMA Festival and as a Guest Conductor with the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra. Tom also works regularly with our wonderful youth orchestra colleagues at Sydney Youth Orchestras and with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. “I had the privilege of growing up in Hobart and benefiting from Tasmania’s rich musical scene,” said Tom. “As I have developed my career as a professional musician, my appreciation of the value of these early experiences in music education has grown. Having returned to live in Tasmania after many years working overseas as a performing musician, conductor and composer, I have been determined to share my musical experiences and training to a younger generation of musicians. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the outstanding community of young TYO musicians as their Chief Conductor.” Tom will undertake the Chief Conductor role on a part-time basis in 2025, conducting the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra and working closely with TYO's outstanding artistic team. Tom will be supported by Alexander Rodrigues, who has been appointed as Associate Conductor with responsibility for TYO’s 2025 collaborations. Warm congratulations to you both!

Inspire and guide outstanding young Tasmanian musicians as TYO's Chief Conductor! Tasmanian Youth Orchestras is seeking an artistic leader of outstanding calibre to commence as TYO’s Chief Conductor in 2025 – our 60th anniversary year. This leadership role offers the successful candidate the opportunity to guide and nurture talented young Tasmanians as they develop as musicians, as individuals and as part of the vibrant creative community that is TYO. Our new Chief Conductor will have a wealth of experience as a conductor and music educator. They will be a passionate advocate for music – and for its importance in the lives of young people and our communities. They will foster a positive, vibrant, and inclusive learning and development environment. They will plan, program and deliver annual rehearsal and performance activities to engage the young musicians of the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra and to inspire audiences; and they will mentor and guide TYO’s artistic team. This role reports to the TYO CEO; and the successful candidate will work with the TYO CEO, Board of Directors and administrative and artistic teams to deliver the organisation’s strategic vision – for Tasmania to be a vibrant, unique place for classical music, where young people thrive. A position description and full application details are available at https://lnkd.in/gQ9bmd28 This is a part-time role, with capacity to scope the role and duties between 0.3FTE – 0.6FTE to suit the preference and availability of the successful candidate. Applications close COB Monday 4 November 2024. If you have questions regarding the role, please contact TYO CEO Kyna Hart in confidence on 0474 316 608 or kyna@tyo.org.au.

TYOers frequently (and firmly!) remind us that a primary motivator for their TYO participation is the opportunity to play canon repertoire. We listen; so alongside all the new work premieres, co-creations and collaborations, we have concerts like this Sunday's 'Serenity & Solitude', which features the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra under the direction of Guest Conductor Jack Machin, performing Brahms' Second Symphony and two works by Mendelssohn. 'Serenity & Solitude' is - simply - beautiful music played beautifully, by outstanding young musicians who put heart and soul into engaging with works they love. Join us at the Federation Concert Hall at 12pm this Sunday 22 September. Door sales will be available; or you can book online at https://lnkd.in/g9F2Vw7y

Help Tassie's young musicians play on! This end of financial year, we're asking you to support TYO's work with a tax deductible donation. Donate now at https://lnkd.in/gQctydna A vibrant classical music community for young people aged seven to 25. A place where musical skills are developed and enduring friendships are formed. Since 1965, the foundational musical home for thousands of young Tasmanians; and part of the fabric of Tasmanian cultural life. This is TYO! Our vision is for Tasmania to be a vibrant, unique place for classical music, where young people thrive.