What’s Been Happening

Even in the face of the current COVID 19 related challenges being experienced by many charitable organizations across the globe, the Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra (ABYSO) continues to inspire the corporate sector to support music development among our nation’s youths. This was apparent at the recently held ABYSO Read more…

Renowned British cellist of Antiguan heritage, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, secured a generous donation in his honour by a private donor to the Antigua & Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra (ABYSO). Sheku rose to fame as the first black musician to win the prestigious BBC Young Musician competition in 2016. In 2018, he Read more…

Plans to establish an online mentoring programme, linking ABYSO players with music professionals from partner organisations, have been brought forward in light of the restrictions on gathering for rehearsals and travel caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The ABYSO has been developing plans for Virtual Mentoring to support its existing educational Read more…

Five ABYSO string players have completed the first phase of an intensive 10 week-long teacher training programme with music educator Hazel Ross.  The course, organised and sponsored by the Global Leaders Program, a strategic partner of the ABYSO, covered a wide range of theoretical and practical approaches to effectively teaching Read more…

The ABYSO percussionists held their first training session with Raul Vergara, Co-Founder of the Global Leaders Program. Raul was to visit Antigua in March to participate in Playing to Inspire 4 but had to abandon this trip due to the restrictions on travel imposed around the world to tackle the Read more…

The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) has entered into a partnership agreement with the ABYSO to support its tutors in residence programme. The funding provided by the ABRSM will support the delivery of a programme of individual and group tuition for orchestral members by specialist music Read more…

The Linbury Trust has awarded the ABYSO a grant to support the development of the instrument repair programme. The ABYSO continues to work with Luthiers without Borders (UK) and MusAid to lead this programme. Instrument repair technicians from both organisations will visit Antigua in the summer of 2020 to conduct Read more…

The Board of Directors of the ABYSO has agreed the launch of a pilot tutors in residence programme.  Under this programme, overseas professionals will be contracted to spend an extended period on island leading teaching sessions at the ABYSO.  The overseas professionals will work alongside local tutors and mentors who Read more…

The new Board of the ABYSO today met for its first meeting in the conference room of Government House in St. John’s. The members covered a packed agenda to include the financial position, staff requirements and programmes of the ABYSO.  The Board will meet once a quarter or more often Read more…