KUSO

Københavns Ungdomssymfoniorkester


Autumn 2023

The last concert in 2023 closed the season with a great programme, performed together with a student soloist from the Copenhagen music academy, Elise Busch-Madsen: Verhey's flute concerto and Sibelius' 1st symphony. Both pieces were an exciting challenge for the orchestra and our amazing soloist, and were performed in two concerts in November, the first at St. Joseph senior centre the 17th and the second at Hellig Kors church the 19th.

Generic placeholder image

Summer 2023

For this Summer, KUSO bid goodbye to their guest conductor Johanne with a great set of pieces: Beethoven's overture to Egmont, Svendsen's "Andante Funèbre", and Dvořák's 6th symphony. A mix of exciting music as well as calm and with more sombre tones, it was the perfect match to end the Summer season. The orchestra performed twice in June, on the 23rd of June in Sankt Jakobs Kirke, and the 25th of June in Hellig Kors Kirke.

Generic placeholder image

Autumn 2022

For the last concert of 2022, KUSO closed the season with one of the greatest pieces in history, Brahms' 1st symphony. Closing the theme of Scandinavian authors, the concerts started with the suite for string orchestra "Holberg Suite" by Grieg. Two concerts took place in November, the 18th of November in Hellig Kors Kirke and the 20th of November in Ørestad Bibliotek.

Generic placeholder image

Summer 2022

Before the Summer break, KUSO went big with two great works: Nielsen's 1st symphony, following the theme of Danish composers, and Dvořák's cello concerto, where we were honoured to host Kang Yang as our soloist. The two concerts were held in Østerbro, the first one in Saint Jacob's Church on the 17th of June, the second one in Frihavnskirken on the 19th of June.

Generic placeholder image

Spring 2022

KUSO opens its 2022 season with a demanding and rewarding project: Gade's 1st symphony and the most famous Beethoven 5th symphony. After supporting the orchestra in previous projects, Johanne Grønkjær Lorenzen conducted the orchestra for her first whole project, exploring the theme of Danish composers which will continue for the rest of the year. Two concerts took place in March, the first in Hellig Kors kirke on the 18th, and the second in BIBLIOTEKET on the 20th.

Generic placeholder image

Autumn 2021

After a year of break, KUSO's first and last project for season 2021 finally happened in November. The programme, consisting of Bruch's violin concerto and Schumann's 4th symphony, was the orchestra's way to release the excitement of performing again, with an outstandig perfomance from Kasper Lykke Hedegaard. Two concerts took place, the first on the 26th of November in Ørestad library, the second on the 28th of November in Hellig Kors kirke.

Generic placeholder image

Autumn 2020

After a long year for everybody, KUSO managed to hold their first and only concert week of 2020, and proposed a programme which the orchestra started working on since June 2020: Fauré's "Pelléas et Mélisande" and Sibelius's 5th symphony, a truly challenging work of art. The orchestra had to play with their backs facing the audience because of COVID-19, but it was worth it to give a sense of completion to the project. The concerts took place on Friday the 20th of November in Koncertkirken, and Sunday the 22nd of November in St. Joseph senior centre's festsal.

Generic placeholder image

Autumn 2019

The orchestra opened the 2019/2020 season with a powerful programme, playing two symphonies from two famous composers: Haydn's 100th symphony and Beethoven's 7th symphony. KUSO performed two concerts at the end of the project, the 1st took place at Saint Joseph Senior Centre's church hall on the 28th of November, whereas the 2nd one was performed in the nearby church Hellig Kors kirke on the 30th of November.

Generic placeholder image

Summer 2019

In the warm setting of June 2019, KUSO played a challenging programme to end its 2018/2019 season: Tschaikovsky's "overture on the Danish National Anthem", and Sibelius' 2nd symphony. It sure was exciting to play the very famous theme from the royal anthem, finely orchestrated by the Russian composer, followed by one of the most known pieces by Sibelius. Two concerts took place, the first one on the 21st of June in Koncertkirken, and the second one on the 23rd of June in Hellig Kors kirke.

Generic placeholder image

Spring 2019

Accompanied by an amazing Martin Buono as our solo guitarist, KUSO played the famous Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo, bringing some vibrant Spanish vibes in Copenhagen. As an orchestra-only piece, KUSO opted for Schumann’s 3rd symphony. For this project, three concerts took place: the first in Hellig Kors kirke on the 15th of March, the second in DR koncertsal during the amateur orchestra festival on the 17th of March, and a third and last concert in Sankt Jakobs kirke on the 19th of March.

Generic placeholder image

Autumn 2018

KUSO started first project of the 2018/2019 season with an impressive work by Brahms, his serenade no. 1, accompanied by two pieces for strings only: the 2nd movement from Larsson’s pastorale, and the well known Barber’s Adagio. Finally, Mozart’s overture to Don Giovanni completed the programme for our two concerts, which took place in Ørestad library on the 23rd of November, and in Hellig Kors kirke on the 26th of November.

Generic placeholder image

Summer 2018

This year KUSO brought some beautiful sounds from the East, with Brahms’ Hungarian Dances and Dvořák’s 8th Symphony, followed by romantic and relaxing works like Sibelius’ Valse Triste and Elgar’s Nimrod from his Enigma Variations. Two concerts found place in Copenhagen, in St. Jakobs Kirke the 14th of June and Hellig Kors Kirke the 17th of June. Here people could enjoy a refreshing break from the Summer heat with us.

Generic placeholder image

Spring 2018

Together with the choir Rudersdalkoret, KUSO performed Mendelssohn’s oratorium Elias. Conducted by Torsten Mariegaard we played concerts the 11th of March in Sorø Klosterkirke and the 18th of March in Helligåndskirken. Soloists: Cecilia Lindwall (soprano), Tine Skat Matthiesen (soprano), Maria Kontra (contralto), Magnus Vigilius (tenor), and Per Høyer (bass).

Generic placeholder image

Autumn 2017

This year’s autumn project presented film music, opera, and drama. Prokofiev’s music for the film “Leutenant Kijé” plus an aria from Massenet’s opera, the Herodiade, were performed with the baritone singer, Lars Fosser, as solist. The programme consisted both of big and dramatic works, such as Finlandia by Sibelius and the overture for Egmont by Beethoven. The project was concluded with two concerts, the 24th of November in KoncertKirken, and the 26th of November in Hellig Kors Kirke.

Generic placeholder image

Summer 2017

This year’s summer project KUSO stood on its own legs to play two works written in the youth years of Mendelssohn and Schubert. The big dramatic symphony “The Great” by Schubert and the Hebrids, written by Mendelssohn with inspiration from a trip to Scotland. We concluded the project with two concerts, the 22nd of June in Hellig Kors Kirke, and the 24th of June in Absalon.

Generic placeholder image

Spring 2017

KUSO’s spring project was exciting and challenging. The young Alexanger Ventegodt was our solist in Rachmaninov’s 2nd piano concerto, while the orchestra played the Aladdin Suite by Carl Nielsen. The project was concluded with three concerts in Frihavnskirken the 6th of March, KoncertKirken the 9th of March, and DR Koncertsalen as a part of the orchestra festival the 12th of March.

Generic placeholder image

Autumn 2016

Autumn’s theme was authenticity, and the two works led us respectively to the pine forests in Finland and to a German harvest festival. The programme consisted of Sibelius’ Karelia Suite and Beethoven’s 6th symphony, a pastoral. We played two concerts, the 24th of November at the IT University of Copenhagen, and the 27th of November in Frihavnskirken.

Generic placeholder image

Spring 2016

In collaboration with Copenhagen Oratorio Choir and Rudersdalkoret, KUSO performed Brahms’ “Ein Deutsches Requiem”. Conducted by Torsten Mariegaard, we played concerts the 6th of March in Grundtvigs Kirke and the 13th of March in Sorø Klosterkirke. Soloists: Cecilia Lindwall (soprano) and Per Høyer (bass).

Generic placeholder image

Autumn 2015

Under the direction of our guest conductor Jesper Ryskin, the orchestra played two famous works from the classic repertoire for the autumn project: Schubert’s 8th symphony, better known as “The Incompleted”, and Dvořák’s 9th symphony “From the New World”. Two concerts were held in two churches, respectively in Hellig Kors Kirke the 24th of November and in Frihavnskirken the 29th of November.

Generic placeholder image

Summer 2015

The orchestra’s summer project had water as theme, with Mendelssohn’s piano concerto no. 1, “Glückliche Fahrt” and “Meeresstille”; Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue; Saint-Saëns’ Aquarium and The Swan from “Le Carnaval des Animaux”; and Strauss’ “An der schöen blauen Donau”. The concerts were held the 11th of June in Hellig Kors Kirke and the 18th of June in Frihavnskirken. Soloists: Jesper Frank Christensen (piano) and Signe Dolezal (cello). Conductor: Rose Munk Heiberg.

Generic placeholder image

Spring 2015

The spring concerts had as theme “GALLA”. We played Johan Strauss’ “An der schönen blauen Donau”, “Die Fledermaus” (overture), “Der Zigeunerbaron” (overture) and “Kaiserwalzer”. This was followed by film music: “James Bond Medley,” Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer”, John Barry’s “Dance with the Wolves”. Finally, Serge Prokofiev’s Cinderella suite 1, no. 6 and 7 and Romeo and Juliet suite 2 no. 1 was played. The concerts were held the 21st of March 2015 in the Faroese House and the 24th March 2015 in the Folkekøkkenet in Korsgadehallen.

Generic placeholder image

Autumn 2014

The theme for our autumn project were overtures, and on the programme was C. Nielsen (Helios, Sauls & David), F. Mendelssohn (Midsummer’s Night Dream, Ruy Blas, The Hebrids), and W. Gade (Imellem Fjeldene, Efterklange af Ossian). The project was concluded with two concerts in Hellig Kors Kirke and DGI-byens foyer.

Generic placeholder image

Summer 2014

The orchestra’s first project with the new conductor, Rose Munk Heiberg. The theme of the project was “fairy tales”, and we played Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, and Peter and the Wolf. The narrator for Peter and the Wolf was Carsten Philip.

Generic placeholder image