Surrey County Youth Orchestra Celebrates 60 years

The Surrey County Youth Orchestra (SCYO) will be celebrating its 60th anniversary with a concert at the Yehudi Menuhin School on Sunday 7 July from 1 until 3pm.

The orchestra was formed in 1964, and Ernest Mongor took over the conductorship in 1967 when he was appointed Music Advisor to the County. Over the last 60 years SCYO has performed in well over 100 concerts, with performances at the Royal Albert Hall in Schools Proms and at The National Festival of Music for Youth. The orchestra has also played Handel's Messiah (in aid of the British Council for Prevention of Blindness) as part of 'Surrey Choir of 1,000 Voices' which involved schools from across Surrey.

Surrey Arts' Head of Service, Sarah Lee, says 'This is a remarkable achievement for SCYO. The Surrey County Youth Orchestra brings together some of the most talented young musicians in Surrey, some of whom have gone on to have distinguished careers playing in some of the best orchestras in the world. The concert will be a celebration and we are hoping that any past members of SCYO will be able to join us and see the current orchestra perform.'

If you, or anyone you know, are a past member of SCYO please email surreyarts@surreycc.gov.uk. We'd welcome any anecdotes, photos or information about the history of the orchestra.

Information about tickets for the concert are available on the Surrey Arts concert webpage.