Canada's best young musicians to train at Western

From about 500 auditions across the country, 98 musicians aged 14-28 years will begin rehearsals, lessons and workshops on campus.

 

The NYOC is unique in its holistic approach, incorporating injury prevention and body maintenance, team building, vocal awareness, performance anxiety, orchestral etiquette, repertoire analysis, life as a professional musician and finding additional work outside the orchestra into the traditional instrumental sessions.

As well as the young players, 18 faculty members and 10 staff will stay at Western. The faculty members are players in prominent orchestras throughout Europe and North America. Alumni from the NYOC make up about two-thirds of Canada’s professional orchestral musicians.

In 2006, tuition for the summer program was eliminated to provide the opportunity for all young musicians. Six days each week they will participate in rehearsals, sectionals, individual lessons, master classes and workshops.

Last year, several Don Wright Faculty students participated, and this year, the Western complement includes returning percussionist Brennan Connolly; Sarah Wiebe, violin; Andrea McLeod, viola; Hannah Jackson, cello; Abner Liu, clarinet; and Eric Mohr, bassoon.

Conductor Jacques Lacombe, praised for his artistic integrity and rapport with orchestras, will lead the NYOC. He is Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for l’Orchestre Symphonique de Trois-Rivieres and was Principal Guest Conductor with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra from 2002-2006. Lacombe has conducted professional orchestras in Canada, the United States, France, England, the Czech Republic and Germany.

Prior to leaving for the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and as a way to say thanks for the hospitality, the NYOC will present a concert (admission by donation) July 23 at 7:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall. The program includes Beethoven, Strauss and R. Murray Schafer.