The UK orchestra is in danger of dying out, a new report has revealed.
Research by the National Schools Symphony Orchestra (NSSO) along with the National Youth Orchestra Wales (NYOW) showed this fear is due to a dramatic drop in the numbers of young musicians taking up the double bass.
Applications for auditions from double bass players at NSSO dropped by 30 percent in 2012 - applications from players of the same instrument at NYOW fell by 25 percent, the report showed.
Matthew Jones, NYOW representative, said: ‘While the double bass has not traditionally been a popular choice for young musicians because of its size and cost we have always had a relatively stable amount of young players.
‘The huge decline we have experienced in young double-bass musicians in recent times has come as a real surprise, and raises concern over the assembly, quality and continuation of youth and adult orchestras in future, if this trend is not reversed.’
Richard Lewis, a professional double bass player, called for a schools and national musical bodies to do more to promote the instrument.
‘The double bass underpins so many music genres, and is central to the modern orchestra, so it’s saddening to see the instrument being under-appreciated.’
NSSO was set up in 1994 to encourage more young people to take up classical instruments.
www.nsso.org
Research by the National Schools Symphony Orchestra (NSSO) along with the National Youth Orchestra Wales (NYOW) showed this fear is due to a dramatic drop in the numbers of young musicians taking up the double bass.
Applications for auditions from double bass players at NSSO dropped by 30 percent in 2012 - applications from players of the same instrument at NYOW fell by 25 percent, the report showed.
Matthew Jones, NYOW representative, said: ‘While the double bass has not traditionally been a popular choice for young musicians because of its size and cost we have always had a relatively stable amount of young players.
‘The huge decline we have experienced in young double-bass musicians in recent times has come as a real surprise, and raises concern over the assembly, quality and continuation of youth and adult orchestras in future, if this trend is not reversed.’
Richard Lewis, a professional double bass player, called for a schools and national musical bodies to do more to promote the instrument.
‘The double bass underpins so many music genres, and is central to the modern orchestra, so it’s saddening to see the instrument being under-appreciated.’
NSSO was set up in 1994 to encourage more young people to take up classical instruments.
www.nsso.org
