Faced with the preventive measures of the COVID-19 pandemic, many orchestras have been unable to organise traditional performances and other activities that require in-person interactions. In this new normal, orchestral organisations and musicians have had to seek alternative methods of running the programme. The Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music Youth Orchestra, or PYO, has transformed orchestral tradition to cope with the challenges by organising musical events via online platforms. These events aimed to educate young musicians and the general public by replacing live performances with two sets of online workshops: 1) PYO Workshop Series, training young musicians on standard orchestral excerpts combined with discussions with professional orchestral musicians; and 2) PYO Excerpt from Carmen, a series of online workshops and performances exploring the possibility of creating a new concept of performance on online platforms.

This presentation will show that the use of online platforms has been effective in encouraging pre-professional orchestra players to learn and develop their skills online. Zoom was used as a primary application for workshops, with its newly developed audio transmission features. For the virtual performances of Carmen, the process started with creating midi backing tracks with metronome beats to be used by musicians when recording, based on the soloist's interpretation. Organising online workshops is a viable alternative for keeping a training orchestra running during the lockdown as it provides young musicians with the opportunity to learn from experts; further, online performances improve musicians’ development according to the usage of technology and will augment live concert seasons in the years to come, as online experiences become increasingly ubiquitous in all aspects of daily life.