Kurrajong's Arabella Logan has joined the Western Sydney Youth Orchestra

Arabella will commence weekly rehearsals with the WSYO next month, for which she will attend a three-day music camp at Stanwell Tops.

The Gazette began following Arabella’s musical journey when she started playing on a beautiful old 1750s Italian violin - an old family heirloom passed down from her great-grandfather, given to Arabella in 2017.

Entering Year 7 at St Paul’s Grammar School this year, Arabella practises violin at least an hour per day, and has developed a great love and appreciation for the instrument.

“I really like the violin because I can play both solo and in an orchestra and I feel really happy when I perform because I believe performing is like giving a gift to the audience,” she said.

Arabella has been honing her violin skills since she was in Year 1, playing at school and in regular concerts and ensembles.

Last year, she performed with the Sydney Youth Orchestra Corelli Orchestra as violin 1 and concertmaster, as well as with St Paul's Grammar School’s ‘High School Crazy for Your Orchestra’, strings ensembles and the school band, and solo performances including for the residents at Richmond Nursing Home.

Arabella attended the SYO Summer School in January for the third year running.

“I find it really great because I get to meet lots of new people and meet up with my old friends… and the music is great!” she said.

This is only the second year the WSYO has been running, and Arabella said she was excited to be a part of it.

“I feel very honoured to join the WSYO to rehearse and perform with other fantastic young musicians from Western Sydney and a wonderful Conductor like James Pensini. I am so looking forward to the challenge,” she said.

WSYO has several regional tours to western and southern NSW planned in 2019, as well as a Meet the Orchestra Concert at The Pioneer Theatre Castle Hill.

Residents will also have the opportunity to see Arabella and the orchestra perform at various public concerts around Western Sydney and at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2019.

If Arabella continues in the WSYO next year, she’ll have a chance to tour Europe.