International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra
The International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra is one of the very few international youth orchestras in Europe, and the only one in Poland. The orchestra’s mission is to provide young classical musicians from all over the world the chance to gain experience and skills in playing in a real symphony orchestra. True to its belief that music knows no borders and is the only common language of humanity, ILYO is open to all nationalities.
The history of the orchestra dates back to 2013, when the entire musical world celebrated the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Witold Lutosławski – undoubtedly one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. From the very beginning, the orchestra is committed to promoting the work of its mighty patron and always includes one of his pieces in its concert program.
The orchestra always performs in the famous golden hall of the Szczecin Philharmonic – the main organizer of the project. But also travels to other venues to share its passion for music with wider audiences. In 2022, ILYO performed for the first time in the famous Konzerthaus Berlin at the largest youth orchestras festival in the world – Young Euro Classic. ILYO's debut in the German capital turned out to be a great success. The audience gave the young musicians a several-minute long ovation, and the concert received very favorable reviews in the press. The event was also rebroadcast in its entirety on the German public radio Deutschlandfunk Kultur. In 2023, the International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra debuted on the main stage of the National Forum of Music in Wrocław, one of the most respected classical music venues in Poland, meeting with enthusiastic reception from the audience and critics. In 2024 ILYO was rewarded with standing ovation at the Krzysztof Penderecki European Center for Music in Lusławice.
The International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra line-up is renewed every year. Hundreds of young classical musicians participate in auditions in order to join the ensemble. Selected ones come to the Szczecin Philharmonic for an intensive rehearsal session in order to prepare the final concerts. Young instrumentalists are guided by outstanding orchestra musicians from such ensembles as the Berliner Philharmoniker, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Philharmonia Orchestra, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and the Polish National Radio Orchestra in Katowice (to name only a few). The next stage is tutti rehearsals with an experienced conductor and soloist. The International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra was conducted by acclaimed maestros: Rune Bergmann, Ewa Strusińska, Ayyub Guliyev, and Przemysław Neumann, and shared the stage with renowned soloists such as: Joanna Freszel, Piotr Alexewicz, Marcin Zdunik and in 2025 – Aleksandra Świgut.
The International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra is supported by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland and performs under the honorary patronage of The Witold Lutosławski Society.
The history of the orchestra dates back to 2013, when the entire musical world celebrated the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Witold Lutosławski – undoubtedly one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. From the very beginning, the orchestra is committed to promoting the work of its mighty patron and always includes one of his pieces in its concert program.
The orchestra always performs in the famous golden hall of the Szczecin Philharmonic – the main organizer of the project. But also travels to other venues to share its passion for music with wider audiences. In 2022, ILYO performed for the first time in the famous Konzerthaus Berlin at the largest youth orchestras festival in the world – Young Euro Classic. ILYO's debut in the German capital turned out to be a great success. The audience gave the young musicians a several-minute long ovation, and the concert received very favorable reviews in the press. The event was also rebroadcast in its entirety on the German public radio Deutschlandfunk Kultur. In 2023, the International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra debuted on the main stage of the National Forum of Music in Wrocław, one of the most respected classical music venues in Poland, meeting with enthusiastic reception from the audience and critics. In 2024 ILYO was rewarded with standing ovation at the Krzysztof Penderecki European Center for Music in Lusławice.
The International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra line-up is renewed every year. Hundreds of young classical musicians participate in auditions in order to join the ensemble. Selected ones come to the Szczecin Philharmonic for an intensive rehearsal session in order to prepare the final concerts. Young instrumentalists are guided by outstanding orchestra musicians from such ensembles as the Berliner Philharmoniker, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Philharmonia Orchestra, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and the Polish National Radio Orchestra in Katowice (to name only a few). The next stage is tutti rehearsals with an experienced conductor and soloist. The International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra was conducted by acclaimed maestros: Rune Bergmann, Ewa Strusińska, Ayyub Guliyev, and Przemysław Neumann, and shared the stage with renowned soloists such as: Joanna Freszel, Piotr Alexewicz, Marcin Zdunik and in 2025 – Aleksandra Świgut.
The International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra is supported by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland and performs under the honorary patronage of The Witold Lutosławski Society.
