The Youth Orchestra Waikato Academy is a new initiative, planned as a two-day orchestral programme during the October school holidays. The academy is aimed at students Grade 3-6 wanting to be part of an orchestra and who may be aspiring to join Youth Orchestra Waikato (YOW). We have recognised a gap in what is being offered for students of these grade levels and are finding as the auditioning standard of the Youth Orchestra gets higher some students are missing out of being a part of a regional group before leaving school. The plan for the two days is a combination of tutti rehearsals, sectionals, music games and social time concluding with an informal short concert for the local community, friends and a family.

The minimum age for participating in the YOW Academy is 10.

The registration fee is $140 including GST, with an option to buy a YOW Academy T-shirt for $34.50 including GST. You do not have to buy the T-shirt.

The dress code is informal, or if you like you can wear your optional YOW Academy T-shirt.

Daniel Collins is an American-born music educator. He began his musical journey at age 11, learning to play the saxophone for his middle school band. Saxophone was his primary instrument through high school as well, where he earned many regional and state honors in both classical and jazz. Daniel attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro on a Teaching Fellows scholarship and graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. He went on to teach for two years at Croatan High School in Cape Carteret, North Carolina where his marching band received multiple 1st place awards for music performance and musical effect. He then became the band director at Down East Middle School, a small school in Smyrna, North Carolina where his concert band earned Superior Ratings at festival, and he had many students receive regional and state honors. In 2019 Daniel received the Down East Middle School Teacher of the Year award from his peers, acknowledging his skilful teaching and dedication to his students. Daniel moved to New Zealand with his wife, Caitlyn, in 2023. He has since received a Master of Media Arts in Music degree from WINTEC with a focus on music composition and production.

Catherine Polglase is a freelance violinist, Suzuki violin teacher and conductor. She studied modern and baroque violin, completing a Bachelor of Arts (Music and History) and Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) at the University of Auckland. She studied conducting under Karen Grylls, Rita Paczian and Chad Davenport while teaching in the classroom, directing and conducting a range of music ensembles and orchestras in four large Auckland Music Departments from 1994 to 2003.  Since moving to Hamilton, Catherine has performed on modern and baroque violin with NZ Barok, Opus and Vox Barok. Catherine is the Associate Conductor for Youth Orchestra Waikato and Conductor for the Rusty Player Orchestra.

You will also be supported by YOW Academy tutors and YOW senior Tuākana leaders.

It's easy!  Click on the link below and fill in all your details to register for the YOW Academy.