Thomas Geudens: The Young Person's Guide to Orchestration

Thomas Geudens, PhD in the Arts

Orchestration for youth symphony orchestra is a scarcely documented practice. This project aims at an operational definition and realization of ‘quality of orchestration’ for youth symphony orchestra.

The youth symphony orchestra is situated as a national and international phenomenon within amateur art, with attention to its levels and repertoire. The orchestration literature will be read with the perspective of applicability for young amateurs. Through score analysis and a survey among conductors, arrangers and young musicians, the artistic know-how of the orchestrator for youth symphony orchestra will be revealed and the experiences and preferences of the musicians will be mapped.

New orchestrations will be written, rehearsed, evaluated and revised. Besides an orchestration portfolio, this research project also leads to a hands-on publication concerning orchestration for youth symphony orchestra

Supervisors:

• Dr. Thomas De Baets (supervisor, KU Leuven/LUCA)
• Dr. Jeroen D'hoe (co-supervisor, KU Leuven/LUCA)
• Mr. Jan Van der Roost (co-supervisor, composer)

Research unit: Music & Drama

Duration: 2019 - 2023