Nace la Asociación Española de Jóvenes Orquestas (AEJO) / The Spanish Association of Youth Orchestras (AEJO) is born

Article published in issue no. 49 of Doce Notas magazine. Madrid, December 2005


On November 16, the official presentation of the Spanish Association of Youth Orchestras (AEJO) took place at the Assembly Hall of the National Auditorium of Music in Madrid. The event was presided over by José Luis Turina and honored by the sponsorship of two renowned professionals closely linked to youth orchestras: Josep Pons, founder in 1992 of the Jove Orquestra Nacional de Catalunya (JONC), and composer David del Puerto, most recent winner of the National Music Award and composer-in-residence of the Joven Orquesta Nacional de España (JONDE) in 1999–2000.

It is evident that in recent years, Spain has been experiencing a remarkable period in terms of both the quality and quantity of talented young musicians. The current generation of musicians in their twenties is unprecedented -not only in Spain, but throughout Europe- as evidenced by their consistently outstanding results in auditions for the European Union Youth Orchestra and the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra, where Spanish musicians represent between 15% and 17% of selected candidates.
The reasons behind this phenomenon are numerous and complex, and this is not the moment to analyze them in detail. In any case, it is clear that such unparalleled development is undoubtedly the result of a strong educational environment, one that includes the widespread creation and expansion of youth orchestras -entities that are both a cause and an effect of this success.
One key difference should be noted between today's students and those of one or two generations ago. While earlier generations, influenced by the country's limited symphonic landscape, mostly aspired to solo careers, the majority of today's young musicians aim for professional careers in symphonic ensembles. This shift is supported by greater social recognition of orchestral work and by academic programs more clearly oriented toward that goal.
The youth orchestra movement has its roots in the founding of Jeunesses Musicales at the end of World War II. Gradually, a highly effective and educational model took shape, one that spread throughout the world. Contrary to popular belief, the first step in Spain was not taken by the Ministry of Culture, but by a small province -Murcia- where a youth string orchestra was created in 1981. It was not until 1983 that the JONDE, the first truly symphonic youth orchestra, was established, becoming a launching point for many others that now thrive across the country. Although it is difficult to estimate the total number of instrumentalists who have benefited from these orchestras over the years, a conservative estimate would be around 25,000. Today, it is rare to find a professional orchestra in Spain that does not include a significant number of musicians with valuable experience from one or more youth orchestras.
Given this context, it was only natural that those responsible for different youth orchestras began to make regular contact, exchanging information and ideas of all kinds. Eventually, they felt the need to formalize their collaboration through an association that would enhance their cooperative efforts and establish a shared organizational framework.
The origins of AEJO go back to 1997, when the first preliminary meetings were held. Many more followed, during which statutes, regulations, goals and actions were gradually defined -though the process was often complicated by administrative challenges. One such obstacle was the revision of the Associations Act in May 2002, which took place just as all necessary documentation was ready to be submitted, forcing the entire process to be restarted. Finally, in September 2004, the Spanish Association of Youth Orchestras was officially recognized. As of today, in addition to JONDE, the association includes youth orchestras from Catalonia, Gran Canaria, Madrid, Valencia, Soria, Castilla y León, Asturias, Murcia and Extremadura, as well as the youth orchestra of Gran Canaria, the youth orchestras affiliated with the symphony orchestras of Galicia and Tenerife, and the "Iuventas" orchestra of Madrid.
AEJO's objectives focus logically on cooperation and coordination among its members, with pedagogical and artistic initiatives designed to support these goals. These include various exchanges: of pedagogical, artistic, and organizational experiences; of information (such as data on members, teachers, conductors, archives, meeting locations, etc.); and of musicians and instruments. Coordination of working periods and planning of joint activities -such as combined sessions, youth orchestra festivals, and similar events- are also essential components.
One might conclude that the ongoing expansion of youth orchestras in Spain, which shows no signs of slowing down, stems from a collective desire to approach music in a different way: working on it carefully, taking the necessary time for preparation, and engaging with the enthusiasm and dedication it deserves from everyone involved. In this sense, the educational mission of these orchestras is doubly fulfilled: young musicians receive an outstanding complement to their training -not only musically, but also ethically, through discipline, attitude and respect- that prepares them exceptionally well for their future professional endeavors. At the same time, they remind us, the not-so-young, of the right way to approach music authentically -something we tend to forget more often than we should.

José Luis Turina
President of AEJO and Artistic Director of the National Youth Orchestra of Spain

Madrid, November 2005