​Youth Orchestra Of Bucks Departs On Performance Tour Of Austria

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Members of the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County departed earlier this week on a 10-day international performance tour to Austria.

“International tours have been a treasured part of YOBC since the first tour in 2002,” said Erica Stockton, YOBC’s executive director. “This tour, the organization's 11th, is taking the group of 60 young musicians and family members to the homeland of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and many other famous musicians and composers.”

A tour group of student musicians, parents and chaperones from Youth Orchestra of Bucks County departed July 8 for a 10-day musical tour of Austria, where they will perform four concerts, with stops in Salzburg, St. Gilgen, Hallstat, and Vienna. (Erica Stockton, YOBC)

The YOBC tour ensemble is made up of students and alumni ranging in age from 13 to 21 years old. They will be performing a varied and entertaining program of popular and classical numbers in four international performances, with stops in Salzburg, St. Gilgen, Hallstat, and Vienna.

“YOBC students will have the opportunity to experience a new culture while sharing their musical talents,” noted Stockton. “The musicians have been hard at work since April preparing their concert repertoire.”

The group is under the musical direction of Robert Loughran, who was one of the founders YOBC, and is retiring after 32 years with the organization.

Stockton added that YOBC is accepting auditions for the 2024-25 season. Students must be in grades 3 to 12 and participate in their school instrumental music program to be eligible. Interested students may submit a pre-recorded audition video. Tuition assistance is available for students with demonstrated financial need. Audition requirements and application information can be found at yobc.org.

Robert Loughran, the founding musical director of Youth Orchestra of Bucks County, conducts the 30-member tour ensemble at a recent rehearsal at Bucks County Community College prior to the group’s departure on a 10-day musical tour of Austria. (Erica Stockton, YOBC)