THE National Youth Orchestra of Jamaica (NYOJ) has been selected by the Embassy of Spain as another of its projects within the framework of its policy of supporting key cultural institutions in the island.

The embassy will sign a framework agreement with the NYOJ, following the path taken previously with other institutions with which it has established similar links, such as the Institute of Jamaica, the Jamaica National Heritage Trust, the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts, and the National Gallery.

The memorandum of understanding to be signed on April 15, by Dr Nigel Clarke, chairman of the board of the NYOJ, and the Ambassador of Spain, Jesús Silva, will establish the guidelines for future collaborative efforts which may include financial support, partnership of the NYOJ with cultural programmes supported by the Embassy of Spain, scholarship offers, workshops and seminars, assistance with documentation and bibliography.

The NYOJ is a non-profit, non-government organisation engaged in the promotion and development of youth orchestras in Jamaica. It provides structured classical music training and instruction to school-aged youths for participation in an orchestra. The NYOJ has started the first orchestra training at St Andrew Technical High School with an enrolment of approximately 75 youths who attend schools in the surrounding communities including Greenwich Primary, St Andrew Primary, St Andrew Technical High School, Denham Town and Tivoli Comprehensive High School.

Spain has previously supported experiences such as the NYOJ, the more successful one being the sister model established in Venezuela where youngsters from marginalised and challenging backgrounds have been introduced from an early age to classical music, some of them even becoming important stars in their own right as conductors or soloists.

Members of the NYOJ recently performed at a concert to commemorate the current Spanish presidency of the European Union.