| Variations of Name | European Community Youth Orchestra |
| Biography | The European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) is an orchestra for young people in the European Union. The EUYO is funded with support from the European Union's Culture Programme and from the 28 member governments of the European Union under the auspices of the International Youth Foundation, along with donations from charitable foundations and corporate sponsors. It brings together young musicians from the EU and professional instrumental coaches to form an orchestra composed of players from all 28 EU member states.
The European Community Youth Orchestra (later to become the European Union Youth Orchestra) was founded in 1976 by Lionel Bryer and Joy Bryer, Chairman and Secretary General of the International Youth Foundation of Great Britain, with a view to creating an Orchestra which would represent the European ideal of a community working together to achieve peace and social understanding. At the same time it was also designed to provide a professional development experience for young orchestral musicians. The proposal for the creation of the Orchestra was first put to the Committee on Cultural Affairs and Youth of the European Parliament in 1974. As a result of an all-party effort, a resolution was adopted by the European Parliament by an overwhelming majority on 8 March 1976 during its plenary session. The European Commission officially confirmed the Patronage of the Orchestra in April 1976. The EUYO's Honorary President is the President of the European Parliament and its Honorary Patrons the Prime Ministers of each of the EU member states, headed by the President of the European Commission.
EUYO operates under the auspices of the International Youth Foundation, an educational charity registered under English law with headquarters in London. |