Jugend-Gitarrenorchester Baden-Württemberg

Elite from the Ländle

JGO may sound like a legislative proposal from the justice ministry, but behind the acronym lies a high-caliber ensemble founded in 1991 with around 30 musicians selected by the Landesmusikrat Baden-Württemberg from across Germany. Most have won the prestigious "Jugend musiziert" competition or other major awards. All members are between 15 and 27 years old. The orchestra's major achievements include international tours to Chile, Mexico, Argentina, Cuba, and Australia. The conductors are equally renowned: Helmut Oesterreich and Christian Wernicke are recognized masters of classical guitar.

The concert promises diverse works showcasing various plucked instruments played with virtuosity. The ensemble's extensive repertoire spans classical works, jazz, pop, and contemporary pieces, some composed specifically for the JGO by composers such as Terry Riley, Martin Letelier, and recently Haosi Howard Chen.