SAMYO is a dedicated ensemble for young musicians to develop their skills as both Individual artists and as part of an orchestra, with a variety of activity including world-class teaching, performance opportunities and an exclusive Indian Orchestral repertoire.
SAMYO Membership involves:
Residentials
One Week | Twice a Year | Easter & Summer holidays
Combining all of your training, collaboration, music-making, and performances into one immersive experience, you will have the chance to live in your musical world for a few days with amazing music leaders, composers, and your fellow orchestra members.
Rehearsals
Various Times in Year (3 months Notice)
Prepares you for upcoming concerts, recordings, or online performances.
Rehearsing together is an essential skill that builds collaboration and teamwork, while also ensuring you are well-prepared. Rehearsals are led by one of your conductors and orchestra leaders.
Performances
Showcase Once a Year
Taking place in London and the North West, these events are designed to connect you with audiences in a live concert experience.
We also arrange recordings and other performances by smaller SAMYO ensembles at festivals and events organised by Milap.
Reunions
Weekends | Three Times a Year |October & February Half-Term and Easter holidays
Come together to train and collaborate, as well as stay in touch with each other’s music and work towards future goals. Our weekend programs are filled with learning experiences, teamwork, preparation for performances, and opportunities to develop repertoire.
Why Join SAMYO?
Working with Milapfest’s Samyo and Tarang has been an enriching and exciting experience. What is unique is that there are students from across cultures, nationalities, social and religious backgrounds, which reinforces my faith that classical music cuts across all fences and lines. The students of veena, violin, mridangam and vocal are ever willing to learn and share with great excitement and sincerity. I wish Milap many more years of such wonderful work.
Samyo has made me realise my musical aspirations can be real. Since joining as a member in 2012, I’ve literally lived a dream and still can’t believe everything that’s happened, from performing at prestigious venues to meeting world- renowned artists, including my role model.
I have become so much more confident when performing on stage thanks to the amazing opportunities that Samyo offers us and also love that I get to learn a lot about Hindustani music given that I have a Carnatic background.
Being a Samyo member opens up so many opportunities to develop musical skills and even life skills, all through teaching from world class maestros and performances at prestigious venues. Most importantly, it’s such a relaxed, encouraging environment that Samyo becomes like a second family.
Where can Milap take you?
i think this needs to be explained better in writing…. because people don’t know what Tarang is, etc…
FAQ’s
Membership of Samyo is for a period of 12 months during which time there will be:
- Residentials: One Week, Twice a Year (Easter & Summer holidays)
- Rehearsals: Various Times in Year (3 months Notice)
- Performances: Showcase Once a Year
- In addition to the above, you will be required to play your part as an orchestra member and come well-prepared to rehearsals and all training sessions as well as keeping on top of your learning via Milap’s online platform.
We’ve found over the years that students with at least 3-4 years of continuous formal training in any form of Indian classical music (and who are still in training currently) are able to keep up with the pace of learning and development within the orchestra most comfortably.
HOW DO I JOIN?
ABOUT OUR MUSIC
SAMYO’s music is unlike anything you’ve ever heard before. The orchestra features an array of Indian instruments, original and specially arranged compositions, and a uniquely powerful and harmonious sound.
A Little History
Unlike their peers learning Western instruments, Indian classical musicians often lacked opportunities for development and a sense of belonging in their schools and communities. In response, Milap founded South Asian Music Youth Orchestra (SAMYO) in 2002 with support from the national charity Youth Music. It was established to showcase and develop these talents, focussing on providing platforms for performances, collaboration, and national recognition of British home-grown talent.
How We Make Music
SAMYO’s Indian music is improvised, and based on emotions, moods, literature and devotion. We preserve and respect classical traditions, but also extend and innovate in them, by writing music which is fresh, original and entertaining, played by an orchestra and choir of up to 35 people. SAMYO Performances are an audio visual treat!
Our Composers
What our ensembles do is truly unique, requiring the finest musicians and composers in Indian music to shape the sound of SAMYO. We seek those who can inspire young musicians, think outside the box, and dream big with us. The possibilities are endless, and we love pushing boundaries and exploring the potential of Indian music.
The music of SAMYO is written by expert composers and arrangers. Our creations are thematic, tell stories, celebrate occasions, or pay tribute to artists who inspire us.
SAMYO’s music is the perfect gateway to the world of Indian music, as it combines the traditions of the North and South, and draws inspiration from global sounds, all performed by some of the country’s most talented young artists.
Clips from our annual showcase concerts
Music from our first album Tributes
Samyo is one of 15 NATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC ORGANISATIONS (NYMOs) in the UK.
Samyo has collaborated with many of the NYMOs over the years which have helped to inspire the young musicians to think outside of the box with their creativity and approach to music-making.