Summer Tour 2016

“For forty years the European Union Youth
Orchestra has united the young generations
of our continent through music. This is
Europe at its best. In hard times like the
ones we are living, the EUYO sends a
powerful message to all the young people
of our continent: your time is now”.
Federica Mogherini
High Representative of the European Union
for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Honorary Patron of the EUYO, 2016
“The European Union Youth Orchestra is
Europe at its best. The young musicians of
the EUYO symbolize the values and ideals
that lie at the heart of Europe – solidarity,
culture diversity, cross-border mobility,
intercultural dialogue and collaboration”.
Androulla Vassiliou
Former EU Commissioner for Education,
Culture, Multilingualism and Youth
“The youth orchestra has been a symbol of
cultural diversity in Europe for 40 years… If
this European Union Youth Orchestra did not
already exist, you’d have to start one now”.
Monika Grütters
Federal Government Commissioner
for Culture and the Media
“Pre-eminent cultural ambassadors for the EU”
Herman van Rompuy
Former President of the European Council
“This is Europe at its best: openness and
readiness to listen and embrace others’
ideas to better chart the future.”
“…undoubtedly one of the most successful
and loved European co-operation projects”.
José Manuel Durão Barroso
Former President of the European Commission
“As the EU prepares for its historic
enlargement eastwards, the Youth Orchestra
can proudly say it has blazed the way”.
Hans-Gert Pöttering (2003)
Former President of the European
Parliament and current Chairman of
the Konrad Adenauer Foundation
“…the remarkable European Union Youth
Orchestra enlisting musicians from 15
European nations. By their art these orchestras
greatly contribute to strengthening mutual
understanding among peoples and to the
construction of the common European home”.
Boris Yeltsin (1997)
Former first President of the Russian Federation
“I am delighted to learn that the ECYO is
touring Europe and India as part of the
birth centenary celebrations of Jawaharlal
Nehru. This is a befitting tribute to one who
had tremendous faith in the capabilities
of youth. I extend a warm welcome
to the ECYO on its tour of India”.
Rajiv Gandhi (1989)
Former Prime Minister of India
“For over a decade, you have remained
committed to enhancing the considerable
talents of young musicians, while serving
as an important symbol of European
unity and cooperation. I commend you as
ambassadors of goodwill who bring delight
to audiences the world over. Through
your inspiring performances, you enhance
our love and appreciation of music”.
Ronald Reagan (1988)
Former President of the United States of America
“[The ECYO] proves that our cultural
differences – far from presenting an obstacle –
brings common riches, creativity and success”.
Jacques Delors (1985)
Former President of the European Commission
“The Youth Orchestra perfectly fulfils its task.
It carries with it, from one frontier to another,
the hope of unity and a promise of friendship”.
Jacques Chirac (1986)
Former President of France, former
Prime Minister of France
“The ECYO sets an example to us all
by demonstrating what harmony
amongst nations can achieve”.
Margaret Thatcher (1985)
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
“The EUYO is of huge importance to the
European Union, bringing together talented
young people from all 28 member states in
order to create an orchestra of the highest
artistic level. The EUYO promotes political and
cultural collaboration, and is a powerful symbol
of everything that the EU strives to attain”.
Vasily Petrenko
Chief Conductor, EUYO
For 40 years the European Union Youth
Orchestra has been the very definition of
excellence and commitment, consistently
proving the value of bringing together young
people from diverse European cultures”.
Bernard Haitink
Conductor Laureate, EUYO
“Since its inception in 1976, the EUYO has
been one of the world’s most prestigious
orchestras and brings together the most
talented young musicians from all 28 EU
member states to create a unique orchestra.
The impressive music educational aspect is
nevertheless secondary to the symbolism
of this unique EU cultural institution, where
the idea of a peaceful and united Europe is
lived out and made tangible to the public”.
Sir Simon Rattle, Martin
Hoffman, Ulrich Knorzer,
Knut Weber Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
“The Orchestra is a symbol of coming
together that is important for everyone”.
Gianandrea Noseda, Music Director, Teatro
Regio Torino, Music Director Designate National
Symphony Orchestra Washington DC, Chief Guest
Conductor Designate London Symphony Orchestra
“For 40 years, thousands of the best musicians
In Europe played in this wonderful orchestra
conducted by all the greatest conductors and
soloists. We learned, we shared and enjoyed
music all together. This orchestra is a symbol
of what the European Union should be”.
Renaud Capuçon
Violinist, Artistic Director Aix-en-Provence
and Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad Festivals
“The EUYO is one of the most proactive
bodies in shaping and defining orchestral
and musical life in the 21st century… For 40
years the EUYO has encapsulated European
values in a unique and powerful structure,
across all member states, demonstrating
and developing excellence in a holistic and
progressive way, looking at the artistic and
social power of music to transform lives”.
Directors and Secretariat of the
European Concert Hall Organisation
“The EUYO inspires beyond the boundaries
of Europe. The very existence of the
New World Symphony is a product
of one of those inspirations”.
Michael Tilson Thomas, Artistic Director,
Howard Herring, President and CEO
New World Symphony, Miami, USA
“… Among those superb projects that
inspired us over the years to develop
our own musical institutions, the EUYO
is the best example in the world of
commitment to the future generations and
excellence in training young musicians”.
Marcelo Lope
Executive Director, Osesp Foundation,
Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, Brazil
“Of all the institutions of the European
Union this is surely the most profoundly
successful. My experiences both playing in and
listening to the EUYO were transformative:
there is no way one can be involved in
the orchestra without developing a deep
love not only for the music and culture
of Europe but for its people as well”.
Alec Frank-Gemmill
Principal Horn Scottish Chamber Orchestra
“Where else is there such a strong voice
for the EU – a large community of people
travelling the continent as 28 nations, working
in absolute harmony together? Isn’t this
everything that the EU should stand for?”
Emily Davis
Concertmaster EUYO, Principal First Violin,
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
EUYO > TRIBUTES
7