We organise international orchestra courses aiming at connecting young people through music. These courses bring together young people from different nations to rehearse and perform symphonic and chamber music works. For some participants, it is their first chance to play in a large symphonic orchestra.
But BISYOC is more than just an international orchestra project. In addition to improving musical skills, the project promotes intercultural exchange. The evenings are reserved for cultural activities that are planned and carried out by the participants themselves, such as international food night, international dance night, and Eurovision song contest. These colorful, entertaining evenings enrich and deepen the relationships between the young adults.
The project BISYOC was founded in the United Kingdom in 2001 as “Bedstone International Summer Youth Orchestral Camp”. Although originally an acronym, “BISYOC” soon became a name of its own. Over the years, the BISYOC courses were held in countries like Spain, Austria, Germany, Norway, Malta, and North Macedonia. In 2020, Brexit forced the charitable organisation behind the project to move to Germany. This was accompanied by a name change to “BISYOC – European Intercultural Youth Orchestra”. By now, nearly 800 young musicians from 25 countries have participated in the project.
The enthusiasm of the participants and their passion for music create the joyful atmosphere of the course and the overwhelmingly positive response of the audience. We would like to offer many more courses which inspire both the participants and the audience. We hope to build bridges to a brighter future in a united Europe by connecting through music.