Hawke's Bay Youth Orchestra (HBYO)

The Hawke’s Bay Orchestral Society is NZ’s oldest orchestral society and consists of three orchestras, catering to musicians of all ages with emphasis on promoting tuition and orchestral performance in our youth.

Through a program of weekly rehearsals, musicians who have only been playing for a few months can develop their reading and ensemble skills, meet like-minded youngsters and have some fun under the tutelage of Mary McHattie in the Training Orchestra. Once these musicians have progressed and want to tackle some more challenging repertoire, they move to the Youth Orchestra under that baton of Kimbali Harding. Some of the most talented musicians are part of this orchestra including NCEA scholarship and Hawkes Bay Young Musician of the year recipients, but what links them with a common thread is their love of music and sense of tuakana-tenia and community. Nowhere is this more apparent than with the Community Orchestra, where lifelong learners and lovers of music can rehearse and enjoy making music together under the direction of Charlotte Van Asch.

We are constantly amazed by the talent and dedication of our young people. It is humbling to see the way they make music together, striving to create something that is beautiful and greater than the individual parts.