SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) – The National Institute of Arts’ Youth Orchestra performs in three virtual winter concerts during the winter season. On Saturday, December 12 and 19, 2020, the National Youth Orchestra will bring some musical light in these challenging times. The virtual performances start at 9 a.m. and end at 11 a.m. and can be viewed via a zoom link.
The National Youth Orchestra is part of the ‘Music brings people together’ program, which was started in November 2018, with the assistance of the Dutch Disaster Fund. Students in the age category from 6 to 18 years were, after an audition and intake, admitted to the National Youth Orchestra and professional musicians were recruited to form the first Youth Orchestra in Sint Maarten.
The National Institute of Arts (NIA) also invested in a wide array of musical instruments, such as violins, trumpets, trombones, flutes, clarinets, cellos, key-boards, hobos, percussion instruments, and so much more. Students have three times per week classes in small groups; two times during the week and on Saturday with the whole orchestra. After signing a waiver, the students are allowed to take their musical instruments home to practice.
Since its inception, the NIA Youth Orchestra performs at least three times per year for a large live audience. With the financial assistance of the Dutch Cooperation Fund, the orchestra was able to continue with classes and even had a very successful summer camp 2020. The management of the orchestra has been looking for alternatives to present recitals to the general public during these Covid-19 times. The recitals are important for the orchestra to show their progress and also to be exposed to an audience.
During the Winter Concerts, the orchestra will present part of their regular repertoire, but also include some well-known Christmas tunes. The conductors of the orchestra are Maestro Neville James and Maestro Dennis Amadjan. The orchestra will perform from the Black Box studio at the John Larmonie Center. Please tune in on time. You can request your zoom-link, send your request to NIAYO@gmail.com with your name, name of your organization, and amount of people that will enjoy the performance with you. The zoom-link will be sent to you after receipt of your registration request.
NIA would like to thank all students, instructors, and parents for their perseverance during these challenging times. NIA also would like to thank the Dutch Cooperation Fund, all corporate sponsors, and future sponsors for their everlasting support and belief in Sint Maarten having a permanent National Youth Orchestra. Season greetings to all!
As of January 4, 2021, NIA is open again to enroll new students. You can find NIA at the John Larmonie Center. Telephone: + 1 721 543 0600. Email: nationalinstituteofarts@gmail.com. Facebook: national institute of arts-NIA.
