GIFTED Canberrans were among the young musicians who gathered recently at the Conservatorium High School in Sydney for the Young Mannheim Symphonists 2023 NSW Intensive.

Among those participating in the course and a public concert finale conducted by Rachael Beesley were violinist Rove Leske, from Florey, and trumpeter Jess Hill, studying at the ANU.

Thirty-two music students, aged 12 to 23, from conservatoriums and universities in Adelaide, Canberra and Melbourne as well as metropolitan and regional NSW schools attended, along with 11 professional specialist tutors.

Together they explored masterpieces by Beethoven, Mozart, Elgar, CPE Bach and lesser-known composers Stamitz and Reicha and the final concert featured repertoire prepared throughout the week.

This popular youth orchestra course is the brainchild of Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra and is co-directed by Beesley and Nicole van Bruggen, giving students and emerging artists a chance to experience first-hand discovering music through the lens of an historical performance style.