Congratulations to Central Coast Conservatorium of Music bassoon student Xavier Cardozo who has capped off a successful Year 12 playing with the Australian Youth Orchestra’s Young Symphonists in Bathurst.
Narara Valley High School student Xavier, 17, who has been learning bassoon with Patrick Brennan since Year 6 and is a member of Central Coast Youth Orchestra, was one of 60 young musicians between the ages of 13 and 18 from around the country selected for the prestigious AYO orchestral program.
As well as playing bassoon, Xavier also enjoyed the opportunity to play contrabassoon for the first time. During the jam-packed week, held during the first week of the school holidays, the students also performed in chamber music ensembles and had tutorials with leading musicians in between rehearsals.
The intensive week-long residential program culminated with an evening concert at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, under the baton of Queensland Youth Orchestra Music Director Simon Hewett.
The program opened with Queensland-based composer Sam Dickenson’s Across the Years, followed by Britten’s beloved Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. The concert culminated with Rachmaninov’s Symphony No 2.
“Australian Youth Orchestra Young Symphonists allowed young musicians to elevate their skills within an orchestra and gain new experiences in performance opportunities, such as chamber music,” said Xavier. “Some of the highlights were challenging myself with an advanced repertoire and musician development workshops with professionals.”
The AYO program capped off a busy year for Xavier, who has also performed as Principal Bassoon with Regional Youth Orchestra NSW – alongside fellow CCYO musicians and professionals from Sydney Symphony Orchestra and London Symphony Orchestra.
In June Xavier also toured with Sydney Youth Orchestra on its Big West Tour – visiting, performing and connecting with local communities in outback NSW including Cowra, Deniliquin, Mildura, Broken Hill and Wilcannia. In November Xavier will be joining RYO NSW with musicians from the Australian World Orchestra for a concert in Sydney.
Xavier’s musical journey started at Central Coast Conservatorium when he was aged three, joining the Children’s Music Program with Mandy Yule. After progressing through the CMP program, Xavier then learned clarinet with Luke Gallen at CCCM while also playing in his school band at Niagara Park Public School.
Xavier joined the Central Coast Primary Wind Ensemble on clarinet, before switching to bassoon lessons with Patrick Brennan and progressing to the Central Coast Symphonic Wind Orchestra and CCYO. At the same time Xavier attended Musicianship classes with Phillip Rutherford, and last year completed Level 4.
Xavier is currently completing his HSC Music 2 and Music Extension through Sydney Distance Education High School, and has accepted an early offer to study Bachelor of Music (Performance) at Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the University of Sydney next year.
