National Youth Orchestra of Canada
Youth orchestra
Short nameNYOC
Founded1960 (1960)
LocationToronto, Ontario
Websitenyoc.org

The National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYO Canada, or NYOC, French: Orchestre national des jeunes du Canada) is a Canadian youth orchestra headquartered in Toronto. The orchestra has given concert tours in every major Canadian city as well as trips to other countries, including the United States, Japan, China and countries in Europe.[1]

History

Several musicians, including Walter Susskind, then the music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Ezra Schabas[2] helped to found NYO Canada in 1960, for the purpose of allowing young musicians to gain experience needed to play in professional orchestras.[3] In 1996, the delegates to the World Youth Orchestra Conference in Tokyo, who represented 39 countries, voted to award NYO Canada the “Best Youth Orchestra in the World”.[4] More than 40% of the professional musicians in Canadian orchestras have previously played in NYO Canada.[5]

Resident conductors of NYO Canada have included Victor Feldbrill, who served in the post from 1960 to 1964, and subsequently in 1969 and in 1975.[6] Georg Tintner conducted the orchestra for a number of years, ending in 1989.[7][8]

In 2009, NYO Canada performed its first-ever concert which was streamed in its entirety over the internet.[9] In 2017, NYO Canada commissioned a large art installation titled Four Seasons of the Canadian Flag, to be displayed as part of their tour in the year of Canada's 150th birthday.[10] In 2018, the orchestra performed at Young Euro Classic in Berlin[11] and at the Edinburgh International Festival.[12]

As of December 2023, the NYO has been led by Sascha Goetzel,[13] who had first guest-conducted NYO Canada in November 2019.[14] In December 2023 it was announced that Naomi Woo would serve as principal conductor for the NYO's 2024-2025 season. Woo is the first woman to lead the orchestra since its founding.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ "National Youth Orchestra of Canada". Edinburgh Reporter, John Preece - August 13, 2018
  2. ^ "NYO Canada remembers one of its founders" (Press release). National Youth Orchestra of Canada. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  3. ^ Elaine Keillor (18 March 2008). Music in Canada: Capturing Landscape and Diversity. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. p. 224. ISBN 978-0-7735-3391-2.
  4. ^ NYOC Annual Report. 2015. p. 6 https://nyoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015-NYOC-Annual-Report-1.pdf
  5. ^ Moira Donovan (2016-09-16). "National Youth Orchestra stops by Halifax in search of local talent". CBC News. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  6. ^ "NYO Canada Remembers – Victor Feldbrill" (Press release). National Youth Orchestra of Canada. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  7. ^ Paul Helmer (22 June 2014). Growing with Canada: The ƒmigrŽ Tradition in Canadian Music. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. p. 219. ISBN 978-0-7735-7624-7.
  8. ^ "Georg Tintner". The Canadian Encyclopedia.
  9. ^ Chris Chipello (2009-08-05). "McGill, National Youth Orchestra of Canada team up for Web concert". McGill Reporter. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  10. ^ John Burge (2017-07-17). "Powerful painting inspires composer to connect Canadians". The Conversation. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  11. ^ "Young Euro Classic Archiv Programme 2018". Young Euro Classic (in German). Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  12. ^ Keith Bruce (2018-08-15). "National Youth Orchestra stops by Halifax in search of local talent". The Herald. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  13. ^ "Maestro Sascha Goetzel named NYO Canada's Music Director for 2022 and 2023" (Press release). National Youth Orchestra of Canada. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  14. ^ "The Frenergy Tour" (Press release). National Youth Orchestra of Canada. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  15. ^ "Naomi Woo, First Female Music Director of NYO Canada" (Press release). National Youth Orchestra of Canada. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-09.

External links

National youth orchestras
Authority control databases
Categories