"Guaranteeing children their rights and well-being is the key factor towards the sustainable development of nations, peace and world safety. Fulfilling this commitment coherently and with determination is what constitutes real leadership. This fundamental role has been entrusted to heads of states and government officials but we must also have the active support of all sectors and levels of society - social workers, advocates, business and private enterprise, artists, scientists, religious groups, the media and children themselves".
(Carol Bellamy, Former Executive Director of UNICEF).
The World Youth Orchestra (WYO) founded on September 15, 2001 by MusicaEuropa is composed of the best students at Universities, Academies and Conservatories from five continents.
The WYO hopes to give the new generation of musicians a voice in the crucial social and cultural issues still facing us in the third millennium and open communication lines between different cultures and religions.
Through its young interpreters, music thus becomes both a real and an abstract tool for promoting and bringing to light often neglected human and social dramas .The orchestra becomes an open investigation in human and artistic dynamics.
The orchestra doesn’t want to be considered merely a tool linked to eighteenth century performances, but one active in the third millennium.
Because of its unique work, the WYO was nominated UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Rome at Piazza del Campidoglio in July 2002.
The orchestra, directed by Damiano Giuranna, offers high-level courses and Master Classes with prestigious guest musicians from some of the most important orchestras in the world: Francesco Di Rosa, Fabrizio Meloni Teatro alla Scala, Carlo Tamponi Accademia di S.Cecilia, Luca Vignali Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Andrea Bandini Suisse Romande, Luca Benucci, Andrea Dell'Ira, Marco Pierobon, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Massimo Paris, Pasquale Pellegrino I Musici, Ferenc Szucs Limerick University, Daniel Stabrawa and Andreas Neufeld, Berliner Philarmoniker, Curtis Macomber Juilliard School/Manhattan School, James Creitz Staatliche Hochschule Trossingen, Adelheid Litshauer Mozarteum Saltsburg, Luca Cola Conservatorio di Musica di Frosinone, Carlo Colombo Conservatoire National Supérieur Musique et Danse de Lyon, Paul Archibold Royal Academy of Music London.
Since its debut in Rome, it met with great success at the first edition of the International Festival of Young Musicians directed by Douglas Boyd, Alan Buribayev and Damiano Giuranna, held at the Aula Magna of the University "La Sapienza" in Rome in October 2001 .
In July 2002 the World Youth Orchestra was named “Orchestra in Residence” of the International Festival of Young Musicians, performing in the splendid setting of Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome. It also debuted in the "Taormina Arte Festival" and at the "Festival Internazionale Santa Fiora in Musica," under the direction of Damiano Giuranna and Douglas Boyd.
In December 2002, the World Youth Chamber Orchestra, a chamber ensemble formed by some of the best musicians from the larger company, inaugurated its activities with a concert in the Auditorium, Parco della Musica in Rome. It enjoyed immediate public success.
The World Youth Orchestra enjoyed further public and critical praise at the third edition of the International Festival of Young Musicians held at the atmospheric nympheum in National Etruscan Museum at Villa Giulia in Rome. It was directed by William Eddins and Damiano Giuranna with the participation of the actor Alessio Boni.
The string section of the orchestra was invited to perform in Jesi in July 2003. The concert was such a success that they were immediately invited to play at the Pergolesi Theater in December 2003.
To further promote the founding ideals of the World Youth Orchestra, MusicaEuropa created in 2003 a project on dialogue and brotherhood in the Mediterranean: “World Youth Orchestra – Mediterranean Tour.” The Project was the fruit of collaboration between the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the Province of Rome, important local institutions, and the support of various companies.
The first phase of the project, in December 2003, foresaw a tournée directed by Daminao Giuranna of 14 concerts in Rome at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, in Florence as guest of the City Council, at the Taormina Arte Festival, and in Genoa as part of the world conference, "Children and the Mediterranean which was part of the city's inaugural ceremonies as one of two European Culture Capitals in 2004." The orchestra also performed in Israel as guests of the Rubin Academy of Jerusalem and in Ramallah, Palestine as guests of the Ministry of Culture.
In July 2004, the World Youth Orchestra – Mediterranean Tour gave concerts in prestigious festival and important sites in Jordan, Palestine and Israel. In July 2006 the Orchestra performed in Italy at the Villa Adriana of Tivoli, in Tunisia at the Festival of Symphonic Music – El Jem Ampitheatre, and in Algeria at the National Algerian Theater, in collaboration with the Ministery of Culture of Algeria. In July and August 2007 the World Youth Orchestra had a great success in a tour in Turkey: at the Konser Salonu at the Bilkent University in Ankara, in Bodrum for the 4th Classical Music Festival, in Istanbul at the Lufti Kirdar Centre, as well as in Germany: in Kassel for the Kultur Sommer Nordhessen Festival and in Berlin at the Konzerthaus for the Young Euro Classic Festival. All these concerts were performed under the direction of M° Damiano Giuranna and M° Isin Metin, with the presence of the soloists Alison Balsom and Gülsin Onay.
The project was received enthusiastically by audiences and critics and also obtained approval from the media and the political world.
The orchestra was awarded a Silver Medal and a Silver Plaque by the President of the Italian Republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, for outstanding cultural and social activities.
In December 2004, the WYO toured Italy, Ireland and Estonia under the direction of Damiano Giuranna. Hosted, was the international acclaimed violinist, Viviane Hagner who also performed in December 2005 in Parma, “the capital of music”, in the Manoel Theatre in Valletta, and in the Estonian National Opera with great reception.
The first musicians of the WYCO recorded with RAI Radio3.
In June of 2005, the World Youth Orchestra went on an Italian tour which included performances in Rome and in Reggio Emilia at the Teatro Valli. The World Youth Orchestra was also invited in June 2005 by UNICEF International Board and the Permanent Mission of Italy to United Nations to perform in a prestigious musical event at the United Nations in New York.
The event -part of the World Tour 2005- celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the United Nations and welcomed the new UNICEF Executive Director. Representatives of pre-eminent world institutions have given their support to the project including: the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, the President of the European Union, and the
Secretary General of the European Council.
The orchestra collaborated with artists such as: Alison Balsom, Alessio Boni, Luca Benucci, Douglas Boyd, Alan Buribayev, William Eddins, Bruno Giuranna, Andrea Griminelli, Viviane Hagner, Francesco Manara, Fabrizio Meloni, Isin Metin, Gulsin Onay, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Alexander Rudin, Antonella Ruggiero, Mariana Sirbu, Daniel Stabrawa.
Due to their artistic content and their unique cultural and social contributions, the World Youth Orchestra and the World Youth Chamber Orchestra are destined to become two of the most interesting youth organisations on the international scene.
