European Capitals of CultureΠοιειν Και Πραττειν - create and do

YAM Session is an annual international event for creative professionals working in the field of young audiences development.

The YAM Session in Umeå, Sweden (6-8 November) includes 24 live Showcases from around Scandinavia, a dynamic Producers Forum and a wide range of thought provoking presentations and discussions from international speakers.

Delegates shall also have the opportunity to enjoy the 2014 YAMA Awards Ceremony, where the word's best music productions for young audiences will be crowned.

European Project 'Blackboard Music Project':

• aims to increase the quality and quantity of concerts for Young Audiences (YA) around Europe.
• Until the end of 2016 strengthen international networks for Young Audiences producers, organisers and experts; exchanging and educating producers, organisers and experts in the field who will share their expertise and knowhow and promoting/facilitating international exchange of YA concerts;.
• During the project period, 2 YAMsessions and 6 showcases distributed among the partnering organisations will allow professionals to meet for the exchange of ideas and inspiration as well as exchange of YA productions
• All of the experience and information gained during the project will be assembled in a “Best Practice” digital toolkit with training videos, interviews etc., which will be embedded in the project website.

Note by editor: The Blackboard Music Project is funded by EU’s Culture Programme, Creative Europe and which explains the use of terms like good practice as this is the typical language of European projects.

YAM Session

YAMAwards Ceremony

​ The Young Audiences Music Awards (YAMA) honors creativity and innovation in the field of musical productions for young audiences, from all corners of the world, created by professional ensembles of all forms, from solo artist to orchestra.

The YAMAs aim to identify and support cutting-edge productions that inspire and engage young people giving them magic moments to keep for a lifetime. Music has a profound impact on young people and promotes intercultural dialogue and understanding.

Since 2013 the YAMAs have become a part of the YAM Session and will be presented on the night of the 7th at the Noorlunds Opera in Umea.

www.yama-award.com

JMI (Jeunesses Musicales International) is the largest youth music NGO in the world, created in Brussels, Belgium in 1945 with the mission to "enable young people to develop through music across all boundaries".

With member organizations currently in 70 countries, JMI is a global network providing opportunities for young people and children to develop through music. The JMI network reaches over 5 million young people aged 13-30 per year through some 36,000 activities, which embrace all styles of music, and coordinates cross-border exchange opportunities on the international level.

JMI places empowerment, with its emphasis on social inclusion and cohesion, at its core. For over 60 years, JMI has been 'Making a Difference through Music', using the power of music to bridge across social, geographical, racial and economic divides and creating a platform for intercultural dialogue.

www.jmi.net

Jeunesses Musicales International (JMI)

JM Sverige

Jeunesses Musicales Sweden gives the opportunity to young musicians to experience and play music and also to meet over national borders. We present, among other thing, Swedens oldest and widest music competition for young people, Musik Direkt.

Jenuesses Musicales Sweden is a part of Jenuesses Musicales International, wich is behind activities like World Youth Choir, World Youth Orchestra, the camps for young folk musicians, Ethno and the ”Imagine” festivals. (In Sweden named Musik Direkt)

Jenuesses Musicales International has for a long time been represented in Sweden through Rikskonserter, Jemuesses Musicales Sweden was created in spring 2011 through a collaboration between our national ”Länsmusik” organisations.

www.jeunessesmusicales.se

Norrlandsoperan was founded in 1974 as a direct result of Swedish cultural reform the same year. The musical theater group Sångens makt constituted the core of the newly formed opera ensemble. The ensemble initially had to use temporary premises but soon found a more permanent home at Umeå Folkets hus (then housed in a building at the intersection Järnvägsallén/Östra kyrkogatan). Norrlandsoperan's first director was Arnold Östman, who also was the artistic director of the opera in the years 1974-1979.

In 1984 Norrlandsoperan moved to the old fire station in Umeå, which was built in 1937 in a functionalist style and designed by Wejke & Ödeen. The fire station underwent extensive rebuilding and expansion, designed by Olle Qvarnström.

In 2002 the newly built theater and concert hall, which is incorporated with the old opera house, was inaugurated. The new building houses a lounge with 480 seats, a large stage with side stages and orchestra pit, and a concert hall with 500 seats.

Every year in May, since 2006, Norrlandsoperan has arranged the annual MADE festival on its premises, and outdoors on Operaplan.

www.norrlandsoperan.se