Five Alive
National Youth Arts Wales celebrates its 5th birthday in 2005 with major new commissions, a brand new website and a trip to the recording studio
Since its launch five years ago in the impressive surroundings of the Wales Millennium Stadium, NYAW has succeeded in establishing itself as a leading player on the Welsh cultural scene.
NYAW has worked with over 9,000 participants; presented over 160 concerts and performances; offered 200 courses and workshops and entertained audiences of almost 59,000 (although this doesn't take into account our radio and television audiences). No mean feat for a five year old!
Artistic directors, choreographers, musicians and conductors from Wales and the UK have worked with us, including the award-winning choreographers Wayne McGregor and Henri Oguike, the founder of the Welsh Proms Owain Arwel Hughes, West End musical director David Firman, jazzman Jean Toussaint, and the Milanese born director Firenza Guidi.
In 2003, National Youth Theatre of Wales, under the artistic direction of Greg Cullen, won Best Production Design Award at the Theatre-in-Wales Awards; in 2005, our newly launched NYAW Business Members' Network with support from ARUP was commended in the 12th Arts & Business Cymru Awards
Former members (Matthew Rhys, Bradley Freeguard and Tristan Gravelle) have gone on to tread the boards with the Royal Shakespeare Company - and to accompany a 21st century Dr Who on his time travelling adventures (Eve Myles). Our Choir has recently recorded with the celebrated soprano Katherine Jenkins, whilst our Orchestra has wowed the notoriously difficult music critics of Berlin.
So what lies ahead for this summer's intake of musicians and performers from across Wales? Firstly, a series of residential courses and tours, which will provide top-notch training from tutors currently working in all aspects of the music and performance industry. NYTW premieres a major new work by Greg Cullen - Botticelli's Bonfire - whilst Gareth Glyn creates Dathlwn, a brand new work for the Choir.
The Orchestra head for the studio to record a CD of Christmas music under the baton of Owain Arwel Hughes. Owain was asked to nominate an orchestra of his choice for the project and he chose the young orchestral musicians of Wales who made such a memorable impact at the Young Euro Classic Festival in Berlin last year.