2003-2005: Introducing Samyo
2003
Following the first concerts in its history, Samyo returned in late 2003 with a new set of music and some fabulous young musicians joined the orchestra. The aim was to promote the idea, identity and young musicians from Samyo around the country, and touring concerts were promoted by members of the South Asian Music Consortium, SAA-uk, Sampad and Milapfest.
The 2003-04 tour started with a special afternoon performance at the University of Leeds.After conducting national auditions, the orchestra presented a high profile Premiere at the stunning Lowry theatre in Salford, Manchester. The young musicians were highly acclaimed and the orchestra gained a reputation as an exciting musical creation.
2004
In one of the higlights of the year, Samyo was invited to participate in Youth Music’s 5th anniversary celebrations, the wonderful event at The Symphony Hall, Birmingham, called The Big Gig. Samyo worked with Pt Shankar Ghosh and Bikram Ghosh, at a Summer Retreat led by Artistic Director Dharambir Singh. The orchestra learnt new compositions, like the arrangement of Bikram Ghosh’s “Gangotri”, and began to develop into a recognised platform for young musicians, as well as a hot property in the arts world.
The first ever National Tour by Samyo, started in October 2004 at Bedford, with performances at Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and The Sage Gateshead, followed by a finale at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. The tour-ending performances at the Sage Gateshead and QEH, London were near sell-outs, and more musicians auditioned for the orchestra
2005
In 2005, Samyo continued to demonstrate that it was not just appealing for young musicians, but could also attract the best composers and tutors in the world. Two legends of Indian music, Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty, and Professor T V Gopalakrishnan, were main tutors at the Summer Retreat, that took place at the historic and famous Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester. With a support team that included the likes of Tabla maestro Sanju Sahai, the orchestra was becoming a well-known phenomenon for young musicians, and the South Asian arts world in general.
