The Nationwide Youth Orchestra of Canada is a coaching floor for younger musicians, and that’s not simply hyperbole. It’s estimated that about 30 p.c of the musicians in Canada’s skilled orchestras are NYOC alumni.
This 12 months would be the last season with Naomi Woo as Music Director, and she or he’ll be taking the orchestra on a tour of Ontario and BC that kicks off in Toronto’s Koerner Corridor on July 18. There, this system consists of Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 with Michael Measures prize winner Justin Saulnier as soloist, and the world premiere of Throughout the Vaulted Evening by Nicholas Denton Protsack, the not too long ago introduced Rising Composer in Residence.
Right here’s a quick introduction to the younger Toronto and space musicians who might be performing with NYO Canada this summer time.
Toronto & Space NYOC Musicians 2025
Manuel Galvez, Viola
A bit about your background in music…
I began taking part in the violin at a younger age and studied at Etobicoke Suzuki Music. Though I used to be primarily a violinist, I started taking part in viola on the aspect and ultimately made the swap throughout college. I fell in love with the heat of the viola’s sound and the soulful character of its repertoire. I’m now finding out at Wilfrid Laurier College, pursuing knowledgeable profession as a violist.
What are you doing to arrange for the summer time tour?
I’m retaining myself in form by attending packages like Musicfest and Quartetfest, which assist me keep performance-ready and targeted. Whereas training my repertoire, I’m additionally going again to the fundamentals to strengthen my basis as a participant. That method, I can come into the summer time feeling extra ready, assured, and able to contribute at a constant degree.
What do you hope to get out of the expertise?
I need to enhance each my orchestral and chamber taking part in. Working alongside different gifted musicians and future colleagues is not going to solely assist me construct significant skilled connections, but additionally push me out of my consolation zone and problem me to develop to new heights as a performer.
Ethan Jeon, Cello
A bit about your background in music…
I started finding out music at an early age as a technique to fulfill my curiosity and love of studying. I used to be shortly drawn to the cello for its wealthy tone and big selection of expression, and it’s turn out to be a central a part of my life ever since. Over time, I’ve been lucky to be deeply concerned within the Taylor Academy at The Royal Conservatory of Music, the place I’ve developed my taking part in abilities beneath distinctive mentors. Moreover, taking part in within the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra has supplied me with useful expertise taking part in in giant ensembles and collaborating with different like-minded musicians. Past my musical development, I’ve additionally devoted myself to reaching out to the broader neighborhood, utilizing music to attach with and encourage others by way of numerous performances and outreach initiatives.
What are you doing to arrange for the summer time tour?
I’m at present perusing this 12 months’s chamber and orchestral repertoire to get a stable grounding earlier than rehearsals begin in mid-June. I’m additionally fascinated by what I’ll carry to my dorm and planning enjoyable actions to share with fellow musicians throughout our downtime. Moreover, I’m getting ready for the following chapter of my tutorial journey, as I’ll be heading to Princeton College to check physics and music. Balancing my summer time tour with preparations for subsequent 12 months is a problem, however one which I’m genuinely enthusiastic about.
What do you hope to get out of the expertise?
I’m actually wanting ahead to performing in a combined ensemble for the primary time, particularly with Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro, a bit that’s each charming and exquisite. It is not going to solely permit me to develop musically, but additionally proceed to discover how musicians work together and join in a chamber setting. I’m excited to see how our totally different musical backgrounds and views come collectively, and I’m wanting to study from everybody whereas discovering my very own place within the group’s sound.
Yi-Hsuan Lo, Percussion
A bit about your background in music…
That’s the factor I’m keen to spend my time and vitality on it and need to make it higher.
What are you doing to arrange for the summer time tour?
After all, musicians put together music. Furthermore, I feel that getting ready our mindset to be open-minded, welcoming each problem, and benefit from the music is necessary as effectively.
What do you hope to get out of the expertise?
I’d say, each half. I do imagine we may have a distinct expertise in every session.
Fay Wang, Cello
A bit about your background in music…
Rising up in a standard family, the humanities by no means appeared like a potential profession possibility. I selected to check music as a result of it’s the place I really feel most alive, understood, and capable of make a distinction. I began taking part in cello at ten, nevertheless it grew to become one thing deeper once I realized how music might communicate when phrases couldn’t.
What do you hope to get out of the expertise?
I’m wanting ahead to the moments in between: late-night follow room chats, sharing tales from throughout the nation, and creating friendships that final lengthy after the ultimate live performance. There’s one thing actually highly effective about coming collectively for the sake of music, and I can’t wait to be a part of that vitality once more.
The next statements got as a part of the NYOC onboarding course of.
Joshua Lin, Violin
Why Music?
As a result of I find it irresistible!
What are you wanting ahead to at NYO?
Touring in BC.
Tina Sievers, Violin
Why Music?
Once I was born, my two older sisters had already began studying the violin and I naturally wished to affix in. Enjoying music collectively grew to become a enjoyable exercise for us and impressed us to proceed to develop in our abilities. At the moment, my two older sisters are finding out music efficiency at college and I plan to do the identical after I graduate from highschool.
What are you wanting ahead to at NYO?
I’m wanting ahead to creating new associates with gifted musicians who share my ardour for music and the expertise of rehearsing and performing collectively (when a gaggle as gifted as this comes collectively and performs collectively, it’s loads of enjoyable!). I’m additionally wanting ahead to taking part in the wonderful repertoire that might be showcased in our concert events and receiving steering from the college that may assist me enhance my technical taking part in and efficiency collaboration abilities.
Marlon Tong, Viola
Why Music?
It was my strongest topic in highschool and I’ve had a few years taking part in a number of devices earlier than that.
Why NYO?
It provides me an opportunity to tour Canada whereas performing music.
Emma Tian, Cello
Why Music?
My sister who’s ten years older than me used to play piano and saxophone in highschool, so rising up, I used to be all the time uncovered to music. I began with taking part in the piano as effectively however later discovered about string devices, and ended up selecting the cello.
What are you wanting ahead to at NYO?
I’m wanting ahead to taking part in Mahler and assembly new individuals!
Hannah Wang, Flute
Why Music?
Each my dad and mom work workplace jobs, and since I used to be little I informed them that I by no means wished to work an workplace job. Once I picked up the flute in seventh grade, I all the time thought taking part in was enjoyable. I wished to turn out to be a music trainer and unfold my love for music. Nevertheless it wasn’t till throughout COVID in highschool the place I wasn’t capable of play with ensembles that I spotted how a lot I beloved taking part in. It had turn out to be an integral a part of myself that I couldn’t lose. I research it as a result of the concept my profession might actually simply be waking up and taking part in music is just too good to not strive for.
What are you wanting ahead to at NYO?
Tour! And studying heaps from college and making new associates.
Andrew Mendis, Trumpet
Why music?
I felt that I’d all the time be lacking out on one thing if I didn’t research music previous highschool and try and forge a profession. I additionally was surrounded by different UofT college students once I was in highschool as a member of the Hannaford Youth band and Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. This gave me nice perception and encouragement to proceed additional research in music and pursue a profession as a musician.
What are you wanting ahead to at NYO?
I’m most wanting ahead to working in chamber teams and attending to know my colleagues and work with them extra intimately. On prime of this, the tour is thrilling as I’ve a ardour for performing in addition to travelling, so it’s the perfect of each worlds.
Elias Doyle, Trumpet
Why Music?
As a result of it’s what I need to do most and I don’t see myself doing the rest aside from music.
What are you wanting ahead to at NYO?
I’m undoubtedly very excited for the chamber music portion of the summer time this 12 months! But in addition touring out West!
Umberto Quattrociocchi, Tuba
Why Music?
I selected to check music as a result of it’s the medium by way of which I take pleasure in expressing myself probably the most. I take pleasure in performing and taking part in music greater than I’d some other occupation, and I might solely see myself doing this as a profession.
What are you wanting ahead to at NYO?
I’m most wanting ahead to the orchestra rehearsals this summer time at NYO. I’m particularly excited to work with Naomi Woo and an excellent low brass part on some inspiring and enjoyable repertoire.
- Discover out extra in regards to the sixty fifth anniversary season tour [HERE].
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Anya Wassenberg is the Toronto Metropolis Editor at Ludwig Van. Beforehand, she was a contract author with a specialty in tradition and journey for 3 many years, and a artistic writing teacher for Ontariolearn.
