Music

Watch the National Youth Orchestra of Canada perform at Toronto's Koerner Hall

Under Sascha Goetzel's direction, they play music by Brahms, Mussorgsky/Ravel and a new work by Kalen Smith. It's the final stop on the NYOC's 2023 Aurora tour.

Under Sascha Goetzel's direction, they play music by Brahms, Mussorgsky/Ravel and a new work by Kalen Smith

Each summer, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYOC) recruits the best young classical musicians from across the country for a comprehensive program that culminates in a concert tour.

More than a performance opportunity, the NYOC offers an orchestral training institute, including a chamber music festival and workshops on business skills, audition preparation, injury prevention and mental health — all tuition-free.

This summer, the NYOC's conductor was Sascha Goetzel, who's currently principal guest conductor of the Sofia Philharmonic. Their 2023 concert tour was titled Aurora and it included seven stops between July 14 and Aug. 2: Kingston, Ont.; Mont Laurier, Que.; Quebec City, Charlottetown, Halifax, Saint John and Toronto.

CBC Music recorded the NYOC when its tour culminated at Toronto's Koerner Hall. The full concert is streaming above. It will also be broadcast on Sunday, Sept. 10, on CBC Music's In Concert with Paolo Pietropaolo.

Program

  • Modest Mussorgsky, arr. Maurice Ravel: Pictures at an Exhibition
  • Johannes Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Major*
  • Kalen Smith: Glacial Titan**

*Tiffany Yeung, violin soloist
** NYOC commission, world premiere