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Yorkshire Late Starters Strings is a special strings orchestra based in Leeds catering for anyone who wants to join - no auditions necessary. The group includes adult learners and those who are returning to playing their instrument after many years off! YLSS members learn from professional musicians in a supportive, friendly and non-competitive atmosphere.

The group organise weekly orchestral sessions as well as social events, play days with visiting musicians and a residential weekend course. The biennial ‘Orchestra seeks Composer’ project sees the group commissioning new piece of music for the orchestra to play. The 2017 edition received over 40 entries from across the UK and further afield.

Having worked with Judith Weir, Master of Queen’s Music, to select a shortlist of four entries, the group met with each of them and eventually selected a winner. YLSS have been rehearsing Mark Browse’s piece, ‘Five Variations on Pana Lingua’, and there are plans to release a recording as well as perform the piece. The commissioning process has been an ambitious and challenging but ultimately very rewarding for all involved.

  

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