The Saskatoon Youth Orchestra (SYO) is a Canadian music program based in

Saskatoon Saskatoon () is the largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It straddles a bend in the South Saskatchewan River in the central region of the province. It is located along the Trans-Canada Hig ...

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada. It is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and to the south by the ...

. The program includes the

Youth Orchestra A youth orchestra is an orchestra made of Youth, young musicians, typically ranging from pre-teens or teenagers to those of Music school, conservatory age. Depending on the age range and selectiveness, they may serve different purposes. Orchest ...

, the Saskatoon Strings, and the Double Bass program. The groups meet every Sunday evening September through April. Admittance is by competitive audition. The SYO plays a variety of music by modern and classical composers. About third of the members are young adults; the remainder are children and adolescents.

History

The SYO was started in 1958, by Murray Adaskin, as a junior extension of the Saskatoon Symphony. In 1983, Wayne Toews and George Charpentier created the SYO as an independent organization. The SYO has been awarded the Christopher Gledhill award six times in succession in recognition of performance excellence. As well, the Youth Orchestra has toured many parts of eastern and western

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

, and has partaken in various music festivals and clinics. In 1996, the orchestra performed as part of the first Banff International Music Festival. In 2004, the Youth Orchestra traveled to

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

as part of an exchange with the West Island Youth Orchestra. The SYO has been a featured subject in

CBC CBC may refer to: Media * Cadena Baja California or Grupo Cadena, a radio and television broadcaster in Mexico * Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canada's radio and television public broadcaster ** CBC Television ** CBC Radio One ** CBC Music ** ...

and CTV documentaries. In July 2009, Richard Carnegie was named the new music director after the retirement of Wayne Toews. In the 2014/2015 season, the SYO performed a variety of pieces from classical and contemporary repertoire, including Beethoven's Egmont Overture and Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture. As of 2016, the orchestra continues to perform concerts in Saskatoon, often with local celebrities and members of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra as guests.

Activities

As well as performing concerts, the SYO holds an annual competition for young Saskatchewan composers, with the winner having their composition premiered by the SYO the following season. The SYO also holds an annual concerto competition amongst its players, with the winner being granted a performance of a concerto of his or her choosing at the orchestra's year-end concert. Members of the orchestra also take part in workshops and mentor music students, and participate in community events. The orchestra raises funds each year by holding a gala dinner and performance."On the Scene: Saskatoon Youth Orchestra Gala Dinner and Concert"
''Star Phoenix'', April 1, 2014

References

External links

The SYO official site
{{authority control Musical groups established in 1958 Orchestras in Saskatchewan Musical groups from Saskatoon Youth orchestras 1958 establishments in Saskatchewan Organizations based in Saskatoon