Iceland Symphony Youth Orchestra

Symphonie fantastique by Hector Berlioz is one of the pillars of the Romantic repertoire, a fantastical depiction of the pain and passion of a young poet who is consumed by wild reveries, with terrifying consequences. Begun when Berlioz was 23 years old, the piece is based on the composer's own experiences of love and anguish. Symphonie fantastique was a pivotal work in the history of Western music. Never before had a symphonic composition of this scale depicted a biographical experience in such detail.

The Iceland Symphony Youth Orchestra played its first concert in Háskólabíó the autumn of 2009 has since garnered well-earned praise, including the 'Brightest Hope' award at the Icelandic Music Awards in 2016. Each year, just under a hundred young musicians from Iceland's music schools have gathered together for an orchestral seminar to form the ISYO, delivering splendid results under the leadership of the orchestra's exceptional instrumentalists and conductors. First Lady Eliza Reid took on the role of patron of the ISYO in 2019, the orchestra's 10-year anniversary.

The ISYO holds its members to the highest professional standards and has been praised for its refined performances and riveting interpretations. This year the ISYO comprises nearly 100 instrumentalists selected from a large pool of young musicians who auditioned for their seat in the orchestra.