For the third summer, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada is making the Don Wright Faculty of Music at The University of Western Ontario its home base.
The group of the best young orchestral players in the country will spend three weeks preparing for their tour, kicking it off July 24 at Alumni Hall.
This year, Jacques Lacombe, who began the 2009-2010 season with his debut at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, England, conducts the 94 musicians.
“He has a wonderful rapport with the students, is fluently bilingual of course, and not only is he a great conductor, he is also a wonderful educator,” says Barbara Smith, executive director. “He is one of the most accessible conductors we have ever worked with and our students love him.”
Three of those students have a connection to Western or London: Jasmine Long (cello), Evrim Can Dogan (trombone) and Brennan Connolly (percussion).
“Students also make life-long contacts and work with principal players from professional orchestras across Canada and sometimes abroad,” says Smith. Many of the faculty were members in their youth. Local audiences will recognize Larry Larson, trumpet instructor.
As well as faculty from orchestras across Canada, the Super Nova Quartet will be in residence. Students will work with and hear Mark Fewer (violin), Jonathan Crow (violin), Douglas McNabney (viola) and Denise Djokic (cello) as well as David Hetherington who joins them for a performance June 29.
During the month at Western, the orchestra prepares repertoire for its tour.
“The repertoire is primarily chosen for its pedagogical components in that it must be challenging and interesting for all sections of the orchestra and span a variety of periods, styles and genres,” says Smith. “We also include at least two Canadian compositions, one of which is a commissioned work by an emerging young composer.
“An NYOC concert is like no other performance. Our students not only play at or above the level of most professional orchestras, they bring with them a passion and energy not found anywhere else. The experience is truly amazing and quite magical. Anyone who loves music (regardless of what kind) will not only enjoy an NYOC performance, they cannot help but be moved. It is not to be missed.”
The program planned for London July 24 is packed with magic.
Igor Stravinsky’s Petrouchka tells the story of a straw puppet that comes to life to the composer’s angular rhythms that mimic a marionette’s movements. Those rhythms are juxtaposed with romantic fin-de-siecle themes to portray the ambiguity between man and marionette with emotional subtlety.
Continuing the Russian folklore tradition, the orchestra will perform French composer Paul Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice, made famous in the Walt Disney film Fantasia. Here the magic runs amok as the young apprentice emulates his mater’s powers, bidding a broom to fetch water but the spell goes out of control. Dukas’ sparkling orchestration shows much humor as well as havoc.
The NYOC invites everyone to their concerts, both the chamber ones and the July 24 tour concert at 7:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall. Come hear the magic and you will agree with Diaghilev.
Performances in London:
June 29 – 7 p.m. in von Kuster Hall, Music Building, Super Nova Quartet with David Hetherington
July 1 – 7 p.m. von Kuster Hall, Super Nova Quartet
July 2 and 3 – 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Student Chamber Groups
July 10 – 9 p.m., Paul Davenport Theatre, Talbot College, Brass and Percussion concert
July 24 – 7:30 Alumni Hall, National Youth Orchestra of Canada
More student and faculty concerts are expected to be announced. Check www.music.uwo.ca for more information.
All concerts are free, except the full orchestra concert in Alumni Hall, which is by donation or $20 purchase of CD.
For more information visit www.nyoc.org.