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SCMP Reporter

THE Asian Youth Orchestra is likely to recruit young musicians from Laos, Cambodia and North Korea.

The orchestra currently comprises musicians from 10 countries and territories in the region.

This year there are students from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines as well as Hong Kong.

The largest contingent - 29 - is from Japan, with 28 from Taiwan and 12 from Hong Kong. There are two students from China.

The orchestra's executive director, Richard Pontzious, said he was hopeful the orchestra would be able to attract students from Laos and Cambodia.

'The Menuhin school in London [founded by violinist Yehudi Menuhin, who is also music director of the AYO] has just started a scholarship foundation for students in Southeast Asia,' Mr Pontzious said.

'That has suddenly given us much greater access to young musicians there: I will be visiting Laos and Cambodia in September - after the tour - to meet some of the decision-makers.

'Arranging this kind of thing is not always straightforward but, so far, we are getting some encouraging indications.' He said he was also keen to include Indonesian musicians.

 'We contacted them early on but, unfortunately, their government declined our invitations to audition,' he said.

However, he had noticed positive signs from another, more unexpected, source.

'The director of the Hanoi conservatory asked me earlier this year if we would welcome people from North Korea,' Mr Pontzious said.

'I said, 'Yes, of course', and he agreed to discuss it with the North Korean embassy. I don't know whether it will happen as soon as next year but it is a good possibility in the future.'  Although it is called the 'Asian' Youth Orchestra, there are no plans to extend recruitment to the Indian sub-continent in the near future.

'The countries we include at the moment could be said to have a similar culture. India is another culture altogether.' More than 2,000 young musicians from the 10 countries and territories applied for the 96 places available for this year's tour.



Talent lured from Laos, Cambodia