Orquestra Juvenil da Bahia

Brazil

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The Orquestra Juvenil da Bahia is the main orchestra of the Núcleos Estaduais de Orquestras Juvenis e Infantis da Bahia (NEOJIBA) – state centres for youth and child orchestras in Bahia. It integrates children and young people from various social strata, thereby giving them the opportunity to access the professional music world. Around 100 musicians aged between 12 and 25 play in this orchestra under the baton of chief conductor and artistic director Ricardo Castro. The orchestra has already made a name for itself thanks to some excellent concerts in Brazil, and has established contacts with many internationally recognised soloists and conductors. In 2009, the orchestra travelled abroad for the first time, taking part in Campos do Jordão’s International Winter Festival, one of the most important classical music festivals in South America. In 2010, the Orquestra Juvenil da Bahia was the first Brazilian youth orchestra to perform in Europe - at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London and the Belém Cultural Centre in Lisbon. The orchestra is due to play in Berlin for the first time in 2011, and is presenting a diverse programme at Young Euro Classic together with the Portuguese pianist Maria João Pires.