Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra

The Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra (VYSO) is youth orchestra located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.^[1] The VYSO operates out of St. James Community Square,^[2] and is a non-profit organization that performs a series of concerts within the Metro Vancouver region. It also provides musical education and development for young musicians.

History

The Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1930 by R. Cyril Haworth as the Vancouver Little Orchestra. It was originally directed by the students themselves until the arrival of its first music director, George Coutts.^[3] In 1938, the orchestra became attached to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and was renamed the Vancouver Junior Symphony Orchestra. In 1945, a reorganization resulted in the orchestra's independence from the VSO and was renamed the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra.^[4]

In 1990 Pam Chambers wrote a 32-page history of the orchestra, titled Sixty Years of Music Making: The Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra 1930–1990.^[5]

VYSO Orchestras

The VYSO is made up of four student orchestras, each representing different age groups. Entrance to each of the four orchestras is through competitive auditions.

Debut Orchestra, Designed for string musicians aged 8 to 11, who have little or no previous ensemble experience.^[6]
Junior Orchestra, Provides training in orchestral skills for more experienced string musicians of ages generally ranging from 10 to 13 years old.
Intermediate Orchestra, A full orchestra offering training for musicians of junior and senior high school age.
Senior Orchestra, A full orchestra for advanced musicians up to 22 years of age.

References

^ Paul Yee (1 December 2009). Saltwater City: Story of Vancouver's Chinese Community. D & M Publishers. p. 234. ISBN 978-1-926706-25-2.
^ "The Garage: Venerable Vancouver venue saved by city purchase". Tom Harrison, The Province, February 14, 2016
^ "Youth Orchestras". The Canadian Encyclopedia, Stanley Saunders, Suzanne Thomas, Nancy McGregor, Patricia Wardrop. 11/23/09.
^ "VYSO - History". www.vyso.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
^ Carl Morey (26 November 2013). Music in Canada: A Research and Information Guide. Routledge. pp. 266–. ISBN 978-1-135-57022-4.
^ "Janna Sailor directs the entry-level strings-only beginner ensemble, featuring players aged from eight to about 11, for Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra.". Vancouver Sun, 05.13.2015

External links