Culled from auditions across the country, and rehearsing and learning technique, style and repertoire at the Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western for the past three weeks, members of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYOC) are ready to show off their musical skills.
London audiences will be the first to hear their program Saturday (July 24) beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall before the orchestra goes on tour.
Lead by conductor Jacques Lacombe, the group will perform Igor Stravinsky’s Petrouchk, which tells the story of a straw puppet that comes to life to the composer’s angular rhythms that mimic a marionette’s movements.
Also to be performed includes Paul Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Maurice Ravel’s La Valse.
Each year, the NYOC includes a Canadian work. The 2010 piece, Trois Rivieres, was written by Jacques Hetu. Both Hetu (who passed away in February 2010) and Lacombe are natives of the Quebec City, which commissioned the work to celebrate its 175th anniversary.
This year, the orchestra has joined with Windermere Manor at Western to offer a special dinner and concert package, which includes a three-course meal, free parking and shuttle service to and from Alumni Hall and CD recording of the NYOC. For reservations, call 519-858-1414, ext. 430.
For more information visit the National Youth Orchestra of Canada website.