Introduction
The Pan-Caucasian Youth Orchestra was created in 2019 for the first edition of the Tsinandali Festival. It is a full symphony orchestra led by Music Director Maestro Gianandrea Noseda.
Every year, live auditions are held to select young and talented musicians from the Caucasus countries Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Ukraine and Turkmenistan. As members of the PCYO, they are given the chance to work with world class international coaches, conductors and soloists during the Tsinandali Festival.
If you want to become a member of PCYO, you can apply for audition if you are between 18 and 28 years old, with some experience in orchestra playing and born in Georgia or in one of the other countries mentioned above. If you are selected, you will be invited to perform during 4 weeks in an intense orchestra training program with international coaches from top-level orchestras, followed by concerts conducted by the most famous conductors of the present.
Georgia is an exciting country full of beauty and culture. The Tsinandali Estate, situated in the magnificent Kakheti region, has now been developed into a Cultural Center with two concert halls, museum, hotels and restaurants, all in the midst of a big, beautiful park. Every year in September, the Tsinandali Estate hosts the Tsinandali Festival, with two concerts per day, many international artists and the resident Pan-Caucasian Youth Orchestra.
WHAT IS THE PAN-CAUCASIAN YOUTH ORCHESTRA (PCYO)?
The PCYO is the leading training orchestra for talented young musicians of the following countries: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Ukraine.
The orchestra performs the major repertoire for large symphony orchestra with world class conductors and soloists.
In 2023, the total period of participation in the orchestra will be 4 weeks (Aug/Sept 2023 – see schedule).
In the first two weeks, coaching lessons (sectional and single) with principal musicians of world leading professional orchestras will be held and the concert programs will be rehearsed with an Assistant Conductor. In the following two weeks, the PCYO works like a professional orchestra: 2 rehearsal days for each program are followed by one concert day (general rehearsal and concert), conducted by the main conductors. In 2023, five concerts are scheduled.
Application, participation and costs for accommodation and meals will be paid by Tsinandali Festival. On top of this, no additional fee will be paid to the orchestra musicians.
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF PCYO?
The PCYO is open for musicians who are between 18 and 28 years of age and born in one of the following countries (have the nationality of one of these countries): Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine.
Musicians are chosen every year in Live Auditions taking place in all of the participating countries.
Steps to become a PCYO musician:
- Fill in the Application form HERE
- Play Live Audition, prepare solo pieces AND orchestra excerpts (scores for download HERE)
- Receive positive result after the last audition date
- Sign contract
- Tsinandali Festival books travel for you
- Arrive in Tsinandali and ENJOY!
Live Auditions
The auditions for the Pan-Caucasian Orchestra 2023 have been completed. Results will be communicated to the candidates by end of March.
30ᵗʰ January 2023 – Tbilisi/Georgia
1st February – Ankara/Turkey (Hacettepe University)
3rd February 2023 – Istanbul/Turkey
23rd February 2023 – Ashgabat/Turkmenistan
27ᵗʰ February 2023 – Almaty/Kazakhstan
2nd March 2023 – Yerevan/Armenia
6th March 2023 – Baku/Azerbaijan
8th March 2023 – Vienna/Austria
If you are Ukrainian (living in Ukraine or abroad), please contact sonja@tsfest.ge for an audition appointment.