Aberdeen International Youth Festival celebrated 35 years of staging one of the World’s biggest festivals for young people at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 14 February.

Patricia Ferguson, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport was a guest speaker at a reception which included a presentation of the ambitious plans for the development of AIYF.

Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson said:

“The Aberdeen International Youth Festival has been showcasing some of our most talented young people and allowing them to shine on the international stage for 35 years. The focus the festival has placed on the involvement of young people in culture has made a big contribution to Aberdeen and Scotland.

“The International Youth Festival is one of Scotland’s cultural highlights. Not only does it nurture cultural talent and promote excellence, but also allows a diverse mix of young performers to come together and share their talents and experience.”

Aberdeen International Youth Festival is delighted to announce an impressive line-up of Principal Sponsors for 35th annual Festival. BP, ConocoPhillips, Petrofac and Shell are the Principal Sponsors who along with Aberdeen City Council will be supporting the event in it’s anniversary year.

Shell’s support over the years has been vital to the development of the Aberdeen International Youth Festival. Shell has helped AIYF to establish some of its more ambitious projects, such as the Opera productions. This year Shell will continue to support opera at the Festival by sponsoring the production of Hansel and Gretel and alongside BP will also be sponsoring the Festival Finale in His Majesty’s Theatre.

Petrofac has played a vital role in helping us to develop the Dance Summer School attracting students from across the UK and overseas, and in providing a headline dance event in His Majesty’s Theatre which attracts top dance companies and young performers and features original new choreography.

ConocoPhillips is a valued supporter of the Orchestral Programme and this year has helped us to attract one of Europe’s foremost young orchestra’s. They are sponsoring the Festival Gala Concert which will be presenting the Joven Orquesta Nacional de Espana - the Spanish National Youth Orchestra.

BP are long-time supporters of the Festival. They are joint sponsors of the Festival’s headline event in His Majesty’s Theatre. This year they will additionally be supporting the Festival’s Trad Music Big Band Project and its band Ceol Mor, who will be performing in Aberdeen and beyond.

The Festival has a lovely new website packed full of information about the festival.

The programme for 2007 will be online from June 20th, but why not visit now and let us know what you think of it!