As cultural ambassador for the EU, the EUYO plays a key role in promoting peace in Europe. Our young musicians from all 27 EU Member States working together embody the EU principle of Unity in Diversity, and offer tangible evidence that the best hope for harmony in Europe is through promoting youth, culture and co-operation.
In 2022, at one of the most challenging moments for Europe in decades, we launched our PEACE IN EUROPE project; a series of concerts across Europe, all dedicated to the cause of peace and highlighting the plight of victims of violence. As part of this project, the EUYO is assisting the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (YsOU) to enable these players to continue their work by helping raise funds, opening projects such as the EUYO's online learning programme to them, and by offering side by side performance possibilities. If you wish to help the YsOU, you can make a donation here.
Forthcoming Peace in Europe concerts
Check back here for more information about our next Peace in Europe concert as part of our Spring Tour 2023.
Past Peace in Europe concerts
Elegy for Peace, Rome, 24 February 2023
Palazzo Montecitorio
For our first Peace in Europe event of 2023, on Friday 24 February, we marked 1 year since the conflict in Ukraine started. Taking place in Rome's Palazzo Montecitorio, the programme featured spoken contributions including extracts from “Why war?” from the correspondence between Freud and Einstein, alongside music for string quartet including an arrangement of Mykola Lysenko's spiritual anthem, Prayer for Ukraine.
As part of the concert there was a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the war.
The EUYO would like to thank Lorenzo Fontana, the President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament, for their personal invitation to the orchestra to perform at this event.
The concert was broadcast live on RAI2, and also streamed online.
Elegy for Peace
24 February, 5pm
Palazzo Montecitorio, Rome
EUYO Chamber Ensemble
Davide Dalpiaz Violin
Stephanie van Duijn Violin
Jaume Pueyo Viola
Pietro Silvestri Cello
Mykola Lysenko Prayer for Ukraine for string quartet
Giacomo Puccini Crisantemi
Josef Haydn String Quartet No.78, Sunrise
Myroslav Skoryk Melody
Launch concert in Ferrara, Italy on 25 March 2022
Teatro Comunale Claudio Abbado
This concert was also dedicated to the memory of David Sassoli, President of the EU Parliament and EUYO Honorary President, as well as launching the EUYO Peace in Europe Project. It was introduced by EUYO Advisory Council member Hon. Silvia Costa.
Elim Chan Conductor
Sol Gabetta Cello
Programme
Anna Clyne This Midnight Hour*
Mieczysław Weinberg Cello Concerto, Op. 43
Sergei Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances, Op. 45
*Italian Première
Concert in Helsinki, Finland on 3 April 2022
Musiikkitalo
Iván Fischer Conductor
Kreeta-Julia Heikkilä Violin
Programme
Einojuhani Rautavaara Cantus arcticus, Concerto for Birds and Orchestra, Op. 61
Jean Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
Béla Bartók Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116
Concert in Delos, Greece on 30 May 2022
LIVE-STREAMED ON ARTE.TV AT 19.30 CET
European Union Youth Orchestra
Diana Tishchenko Solo Violin
Sokratis Sinopoulos Solo Lyra
Programme
Antonio Vivaldi The Four Seasons Op. 8
Marshall Marcus Seventeen Strokes of the Bell for Peace and Sustainability
Antonio Vivaldi / Carmen Fizzarotti The [Uncertain] Four Seasons* ‘Floating Autumn’
Concert in Berlin, Germany, on 8 August 2022
LIVE-STREAMED ON ARTE.TV
Berlin Konzerthaus
European Union Youth Orchestra
Gustavo Gimeno Conductor
Renaud Capuçon Violin
Programme
Iván Fischer Young Euro Classic Festival hymn
Igor Stravinsky Scherzo fantastique, Op. 3
Ernest Chausson Poème, Op. 25
Camille Saint-Saëns Havanaise, Op. 83
Richard Strauss Der Rosenkavalier: Suite
Maurice Ravel La Valse
Concert in Grafenegg, Austria, on 18 August 2022
Grafenegg Auditorium
European Union Youth Orchestra
Gianandrea Noseda Conductor
Jae Hong Park Piano
Programme
Hannah Kendall Nexus*
Sergei Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
Igor Stravinsky Le Sacre du printemps
*(Austrian première)
Concert in Lusławice, Poland, on 21 August 2022
Krzysztof Penderecki European Center for Music
European Union Youth Orchestra
Gianandrea Noseda Conductor
Francesco Piemontesi Piano
Programme
Mieczysław Karłowicz The Sorrowful Tale (Smutna opowieść), Op. 13
Maurice Ravel Piano Concerto in G major
Richard Strauss Der Rosenkavalier: Suite
Maurice Ravel La Valse
Concert in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on 26 August 2022
The Concertgebouw
European Union Youth Orchestra
Gianandrea Noseda Conductor
Francesco Piemontesi Piano
Programme
Hannah Kendall Nexus*
Sergei Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
Igor Stravinsky Le Sacre du printemps
To offer assistance to the Peace in Europe project and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, please contact info@euyo.eu