The Adelaide Youth Orchestras will spread their wings in 2014, with their largest ever season featuring an increased number of concerts outside the city centre and a collaboration with the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra.

The AdYO program, launched today, comprises 17 public concerts at 12 venues including the Adelaide Town Hall and Elder Hall, as well as in Marion, Golden Grove and Woodville.

“Engaging with new audiences, performing outside traditional city-based concert halls and  strengthening our relationships with local councils and the greater Adelaide community are all ongoing priorities,” Adelaide Youth Orchestras general manager Christopher Wainwright says.

“I like to think we’re pioneers among youth music organisations in Australia in our quest to initiate  collaborations which allow us to provide unique concert experiences.”

The AdYO encompasses the 80-piece Adelaide Youth Orchestra, the 40-piece Adelaide Youth Wind Orchestra, the 70-piece Adelaide Youth Sinfonia and the 50-piece Adelaide Youth Strings. Members range in age from 12 to 25.

AdYO artistic director Keith Crellin says a highlight in 2014 will be two performances in June at Elder Hall with the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra. Part of the Maestro series, they will feature the premiere of South Australian composer Graeme Koehne’s Suite from 1914, as well as Weber’s Clarinet Concertino and Mahler’s “grandiose and lyrical” Symphony No 1 Titan.

The progam will also include the annual  Youth Revolution Gala Concert at the Adelaide Town Hall (featuring all four orchestras); the Babies Proms, for an audience of newborns and toddlers; a free community concert at Marion Culture Centre, a concert of music associated with children’s stories and nursery rhymes at Woodville Town Hall, and a series of private recitals at 10 residential-care facilities.

The full season brochure is available on the AdYO website.