The South Canberra Youth Wind Orchestra (SCYWO) is a community concert band comprised of young musicians aged 12+. The band is a non-profit organization run by a volunteer committee of band members, whose aim is to provide a relaxed, fun and social atmosphere for young people to enjoy making music.
SCYWO has been growing in size over recent years and currently has 25 members. We rehearse one evening per week during school terms and perform regularly throughout the year at community events. We also hosting our own performance nights, which feature local school bands and musical groups.
SCYWO began in 1994 when a local high school music teacher and his students created the group in order to expand their efforts. This year SCYWO welcomes Kit back as conductor for the fourth time. Kit has been a part of SCYWO for 15 years, and enthusiastically dedicates his time and energy to leading SCYWO.
SCYWO maintains a busy schedule of annual events including a weekend camp, competing in the National Eisteddfod, a Community Band Festival night with other local groups, a fundraising trivia night and an end of year concert. Across the years we have also been lucky enough to take the orchestra on several tours: Tasmania in 1998, Melbourne in 2008 and New Zealand in 2010.
SCYWO performs regularly at Eisteddfods, fetes, community events like Floriade, as well as our own end of year concerts. SCYWO has also been very pleased to participate in all five Community Band Festivals and is looking forward to the next five!
We are happy to perform at various events throughout the year, either on an annual basis or as a one-off.