In continuation of the founding funding for the creation of the Greek Youth Symphony Orchestra (GYSO) in 2017, the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation supported the Orchestra’s operation and the organisation of its concerts during the 2018-2019 artistic season.

The GYSO, founded by conductor Dionysis Grammenos, consists of young Greek musicians from all over Greece as well as Greek musicians living abroad. Its main goal is to identify, guide, educate and promote talented young musicians in the symphonic and operatic repertoire under the guidance of internationally renowned soloists and principals of Greek and major European orchestras. The GYSO aspires to become the nursery for the emergence of young musicians and to offer them a valuable experience of coexistence and collaboration within a large musical ensemble, such as an orchestra. Participation in the orchestra is free of charge, following an audition, while all travel and accommodation expenses of the musicians are covered.

The main characteristic of GYSO’s operation is the implementation of educational activities and the free of charge admission to its concerts, aiming to bring young people in contact with symphonic music and the values it embodies. The educational programmes are aimed at students of all ages and independent musicians as well, and among other things they include the opportunity of attending the Orchestra’s open dress rehearsal at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre and getting to meet the Orchestra at their audition space.

In 2019, GYSO’s work received international recognition as it was selected to participate as a member of the European Federation of National Youth Orchestras. Among other benefits, this partnership gives GYSO’s musicians the opportunity to represent the Orchestra abroad, partnering with the respective National Youth Orchestra of each country, under the MusXchange programme that is co-funded by the European Commission’s Creative Europe Programme.

The “ELSON Reworks” concert, featuring original works and reworks by Alexandros Livitsanos for a symphony orchestra with electric and electronic instruments, and GYSO’s “Chamber Music and String Orchestra” concert, marked the completion of GYSO’s second artistic season. The two concerts took place in July and March 2019 at the Stavros Niarchos Hall and the Alternative Stage of the Greek National Opera, respectively.

• During 2019, 64 young musicians of the Orchestra participated in the 2 concerts held in Athens.
• In the 2 years of GYSO’s operation, more than 100 musicians have been selected, following auditions, to participate with the Orchestra in the 8 concerts that have been organised, while more than 1,500 young people participated in its educational activities.

“Our orchestra consists of young Greek musicians that live in Greece and abroad who are eager to work. The collaboration with one another and with the Maestro is exceptional and we work within a warm and friendly atmosphere. In the orchestra, I have learned listening to others and fitting into a group, through which I can function better. Besides that, I have already acquired a different and important music repertoire, one that I would never have been in contact with while being a soloist. I am excited with everything our orchestra has achieved so far, and for those I envision it can create in the near future; I am sure that it will have a brilliant and successful course.”

Giorgos Banos, Violin (20 years old)

Barenboim-Said Akademie, Germany

“The video of the inaugural concert of ELSON which had a strong online presence on social media made me aware of the existence of the newly established orchestra. In my first rehearsal with ELSON, I felt from the first minute that I was in a professional orchestra rather than a youth orchestra, due to the professionalism of the orchestra members. Moreover, the artistic outcome that resulted from the first rehearsal, within only a few hours, impressed me to such extent that this first meeting with the orchestra is still deeply engraved into my memory, minute by minute, after a year and will be for many years to come.”

Maria Skandali, Cello (26 years old)

Royal Conservatoire, The Hague, Netherlands