Young Euro Classic Orchestra Germany-India

Opening concert on May 31st 2011 in attendance of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel

After China, Turkey and Southeastern Europe the Young Euro Classic Orchester formed anew in India, to join, in our globalised world, different cultures and their musical traditions on one stage. Music students of the Folkwang University Essen performed shoulder to shoulder with grand masters of the Dhrupad and members of the India National Youth Orchestra under the baton of Vijay Upadhyaya, a programme that mingled the vast abundance of both musical cultures. Beethoven’s 8th Symphony and Mendelssohn’s “Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage” created the frame for an improvisation of the Dhrupad masters Bahauddin Dagar (rudra-veena), Pt. Pushparaj Koshti (surbahar) and Uday Bhawalkar (voice).

“Germany and India 2011-2012: Infinite Opportunities”

On the occasion of celebrating 60 years of Indo-German diplomatic relations, a series of events will be held, starting in the second half of 2011 and continuing until late 2012. German Chancellor Angela Merkel opened this special year on May 31 2011, witnessing a successful example of German-Indian friendship in the Young Euro Classic Orchestra Germany-India.  

India National Youth Orchestra - music that connects

The initiative India National Youth Orchestra was founded in 2010 to allow young Indian musicians to gain valuable experience as orchestra musicians. Although the interest in European classical music has grown over the past years in India, there are hardly any possibilities to perform within an orchestra. Young music students now have the opportunity to meet in workshops and academies to perform together in one orchestra under the conduction of conductors and instructors from Europe. Through commissioned works by Indian composers the orchestra found its own unique Indian sound that combines the best of both musical traditions.

Folkwang University of the Arts

Since 1927 the Folkwang University consolidates a plurality of different art forms and disciplines and lives together with its students its idea of the cross-disciplinary interaction of the arts. The students of the Folkwang University live this idea and understand themselves as ambassadors of music who, in our globalised world today, meet all new musical traditions with curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Together with the musicians, two of the University's double basses set out to India, completing the sound of the orchestra.