YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Get to Know Us

The Toowoomba Regional Youth Orchestra's founder and conductor is Tim Gray. He started TRYO with the idea of providing a large community music ensemble for those young musicians who do not have access to one. The orchestra has been enthusiastically supported by families of young people who want to broaden their musical experience, including Home-schooled families (as they don't normally have access to a school band), students from schools that don't have a large instrumental music program and young adults wanting to continue their musical journey post-high-school. 

In the short time since its inception at the beginning of 2017, TRYO has grown to around 30 players that regularly attend the weekly rehearsals. Our repertoire is modern orchestral and includes music from film, musical theatre, latest pop songs, classical greats, and, thanks to Lindsey Stirling, even dubstep! 

Ages range from 10 - 20+ with ability levels ranging from Grade 2 AMEB right through to AMUSA level players. 

Local performances include fundraising concerts for Teen Challenge at the USQ Concert Hall, special events at the City Library (eg Too-Con festival), Carnival of Flowers Music in the Park in Spring, Christmas Wonderland in Queens Park. We have also performed in 2 combined concerts with the Queensland Youth Orchestra, at the Old Museum in Brisbane. The beginning of 2020 saw us launch our first 3-day Summer Music Camp with 64 young musicians performing loads of Star Wars music in the Finale concert.

TRYO is supported by the Harlaxton RSL Brass Band by allowing us to hire their rehearsal space and use their percussion instruments as well as partnering with them in our combined concerts.

New players are always welcome and are encouraged to sit in on a rehearsal to check out the fun. There is no audition process but players should have had at least 2 or 3 years tuition before joining and be comfortable sight-reading and playing Grade 2+ AMEB level music.  Those interested in 1st positions (1st flute, 1st violin etc) should be around the Grade 4/5 AMEB level or higher.

Parts are often specially arranged by the music director to cater for the range of abilities of the players that attend.

Home-schoolers wanting to start on an instrument should inquire about TRYBE (on hiatus at the moment but recommencing 2021), a beginner ensemble for Homeschooling families that runs on a Monday afternoon. Starter groups are also available on various instruments.

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