European Community Baroque Orchestra

The European Community Baroque Orchestra was set up in 1985 as the major initiative of Eurpean Music Year to bring together Europe's most talented young Baroque musicians. The ECHO provides orchestral performing experience which is a vital link between conservatoire study and a fully professional career, and offers a unique opportunity for young players to work under the direction of the world's top Baroque specialists.

The activities of the ECBO now follow an annual pattern, beginning with audition courses at which the members of the Orchestra are selected. The courses are run under the direction of a highly integrated team of specialists, which includes Roy Goodman, Jaap ter Linden, Lucy van Dael, Jan Schlapp, Enrico Gatti, Jos van Immerseel, Ku Ebbinge and Marc Vallon. For the successful musicians the next stage is a training course during which intensive rehearsals take place for the forthcoming concert tours and recordings.

After this thorough preparation the Orchestra is then ready to embark on its touring schedule which has taken it to all the European Community countries, with performances in many of the major Festivals in Europe. The ECBO has developed a special rclationschip with directors Roy Goodman and Ton Koopman and has worked with most of the world's leading Baroque directors; Frans Bruggen, Trevor Pinnock, Christopher Hogwood, Jordi Savall, JeanClaude Malgoire, William Christie, Reinhard Goebel, Joshua Rificin and Andrew Parrott. Highlights have included Festival van Vlaanderen, Brugge; Algarve International Festival; Bachtage, Berlin; Haendel in Oxford Festival; Gulbenkian Early Music Festival, Lisbon; Festival Musica Antiqua Sevilla, Spain; Holland Early Music Festival, Utrecht.

In addition the Orchestra undertakes each year an "ambassadorial" commitment with performances at EG Summits and EC Capitals of Culture, and tours of the USSR and East Germany, for example. Future tours are planned to the USA, Japan and Brazil.