The staff, faculty and students of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYOC) and the Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western are on the same page when it comes to being prepared, organized, working together, offering the best program possible and having a good time.
For the third year, some of the most talented young musicians in the country are spending a month at Western. The 95 players, including five current students or recent Western Music alumni, were selected to participate in a rigorous summer training program to prepare them for careers as professional orchestra musicians.
Close to 100 players were selected to participate in a rigorous summer training program to prepare them for careers as professional orchestra musicians.
The curriculum includes major repertoire, chamber music, concerts, professional development seminars, and more. After their residency at Western the orchestra will tour Ontario and Quebec.
“The NYOC’s summer training institute offers students an unparalleled amount of access to their teachers, who represent Canada’s most prominent orchestral musicians and conductors,” says executive director Barbara Smith. “A typical day may include private lessons, sectionals and full orchestra rehearsals, chamber music, guest lectures, career development workshops faculty concerts, and social activities. This immersive month-long program contains more hours of practical orchestral training than most colleges and universities offer in a year.”
Each participant receives a full scholarship that covers all training costs, food and housing at the training location, and travel and accommodation during the tour. They also provide them with the opportunity to learn and perform alongside other highly skilled musicians from across the country.
Repertoire this summer includes two symphonies by Haydn, one by Mahler, a commissioned work by Rob Teehan, Samy Moussa’s Cyclus, Ravel’s Alborada del Gracioso, symphonic dances from Bertnstein’s West Side Story, Le Sacre du printemps by Stravinsky, a Canzona by Gabrieli, Mozart’s Serenade in C minor, Richard Strauss’ Serenade, Fanafare pour tous les temps by Delerue, Kraken by Hazel and a percussion section feature.
“As an alumna of Western Music, I was familiar with the campus and facilities and thought that Western seemed to be the perfect location for the NYOC’s training institute,” says Smith. “That, together with the tremendous support and co-operation we received from Dean Robert Wood and his staff from our initial contact to the present has made it an obvious choice for us.”
After their residency at Western members of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada will tour Ontario and Quebec.
She adds Western strives to provide the best experience in all aspects of learning and living, which she says is extended to the NYOC.
“Our program is extremely intense, challenging and can be quite exhausting. We want our students to feel that they are supported in every way and we endeavor to ensure that they do not have to navigate their way through difficult or uncomfortable rehearsal or living conditions,” says Smith. “The Western staff continually go above and beyond to make the students, faculty and staff feel welcomed and respected and that goes a long way towards helping them focus on the program.”
The NYOC will be performing a number of times while at Western. Here is a list of the upcoming shows:
**All concerts start at 9pm in Von Kuster Hall unless otherwise noted**
*Saturday, July 4 Faculty Concert
*Tuesday, July 7 Faculty Concert
*Friday, July 10 Student chamber group concerts
*Saturday, July 11 Student chamber group concerts
*Monday, July 13 Faculty Concert/Madrigals
*Tuesday, July 14 Student brass and percussion concert (Paul Davenport Theatre)
*Friday, July 17 Faculty Concert
*Thursday, July 23 at Alumni Hall
Alain Trudel, Conductor
Rob Teehan Dreams of Flying (NYOC commission; world premiere)
Haydn Symphony No. 96
Intermission
Mahler Symphony No. 6
Admission by donation (suggested: $20 or CD purchase)
*Saturday, July 25 at Alumni Hall
Alain Trudel, conductor
Samy Moussa – Cyclus
Ravel – Alborado del Gracioso
Bernstein – West Side Story: Symphonic Dances
Stravinsky – Rite of Spring
Admission by donation (suggested: $20 or CD purchase)