The first annual Strauss Ball at the Rotunda Hospital on Tuesday night was an ideal answer to two of the National Youth Orchestra's recent aims. The newly-formed Association of Former Members of the NYOI wanted a social occasion to join old and new members, and the current NYO needed funds for their forthcoming tour of the US.
This tour, which will take off in August, brings the orchestra to several US cities under the baton of guest conductor Alexander Anissimov, who has recently been made the new principal conductor with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. The Strauss Ball was the brain child of NYO cellist Donagh Collins, who has organised several such balls in his alma mater, UCD. Donagh is the brother of the renowned pianist Finghin Collins, who was just back from his second trip to Paris in the past 10 days. The first trip was to collect a major prize which he won, beating 12 international young pianists, while the second was to perform at a seminar in the Conservatoire Superieure in Paris, with four other members of the NYO.
On the night, the Pillar Room in the Rotunda was crowded with current and past members as well as friends of the NYO. The unofficial "best waltzer of the night" award went to Edward Cannon from the US Embassy (the ambassador, Jean Kennedy Smith has been helping the NYO with their plans), while the official guests of honour were Denis Smyth and Dave Shannon of Toyota Ireland, the orchestra's patrons.