Tivoli's very own guard, music school and orchestra
The Tivoli Youth Guard
A piece of living cultural history
The 100 boys and girls that now make up the Tivoli Youth Guard are the current face of a tradition stretching back to 1844, when the world’s first youth guard was formed as a “Lilliputian Military”. After Tivoli opened successfully in 1843, its founder, Georg Carstensen, decided to give himself a Tivoli Boys Guard as a birthday present for Tivoli’s second season – and so it came to pass.
Today the Tivoli Youth Guard is a year-round music school for boys and girls aged 8-16 who have passed the admission tests. The Fifes and Drums and the Tivoli Youth Guard Concert Band are elite youth ensembles in their fields, while the Colour Guard specialises in the military tradition surrounding the Tivoli Youth Guard. At the same time, all sections are the foundation stones of the schooling and upbringing that the guards receive during their time in the Tivoli Youth Guard.
Like Tivoli itself, the Tivoli Youth Guard is well-known in many parts of the world. The Guard regularly travels abroad to represent Tivoli and Denmark through music and parades. The uniform of bearskin hat, red jacket and white trousers form a visual icon that instantly symbolises much of the good that Tivoli and Denmark represent.
Admission tests
If you are 7-11 years old you can apply for the Tivoli Youth Guard.
Every year we take in approximately 20 new pupils and we accept boys and girls with widely diverse backgrounds. The only thing that really matters is your musical talent – and the dedication from you as well as your family. There are always more applicants than we can accept so it is no defeat if you are not accepted - but it is well done if you are.
Composer in residence
Aya Yoshida
Composer in residence 2020-2021
The Tivoli Youth Guard has named Japanese born Aya Yoshida composer in residence. Yoshida composed Tivoli-Gardens 175-års-vals in 2019 in occasion of the 175th anniversary of the Guard. Afterwards the collaboration extended to The Tivoli Youth Guard & H.C. Andersen, which includes Yoshida’s work Nightingale.
Much more is to come from the partnership adding to both repertoire and enjoyment for The Tivoli Youth Guard and audience.
Further information about Aya Yoshida.