Chetham’s students perform first live youth orchestra concert for 16 months

Chetham’s students are performing in front of a live audience today – becoming the UK’s first youth orchestra to do so since the pandemic began.

The event – which is the culmination of a two-week festival of music at Chetham’s School of Music – features all 328 of our students, spread across four concerts in one day.

Chetham’s is home to many of the country’s finest young musicians, aged 8-18. Their performances, in front of socially distanced audiences, are taking place at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.

Chetham’s School of Music Joint Principal, Tom Redmond, said:

“It is a long time since any young person in this country has performed in a youth orchestra in front of a live audience. These are the experiences which really shape a young musician. It’s  quite emotional for all of us involved!”

The day of concerts features works by composers from Beethoven and Tchaikovsky to Brahms and Resphigi.