News
Summer residency to be held at Moncton’s Crandall University
ALAN COCHRANE TIMES & TRANSCRIPT
The Youth Orchestra of the Americas will bring its 2015 residency program to New Brunswick in July, giving four home-grown musicians an opportunity to learn and perform with the world-class ensemble.
“This year we received 2,200 auditions for 80 seats in the orchestra,” Nina Wier, executive director of YOA said in a news release. “We are especially pleased to draw attention to the 13 Canadians selected, including three from Sistema N.B.”– Saint John’s Kathryn Clarke, trumpet; Julie Rochus, French horn; and conductor Antonio Delgado of Moncton.
Clarke and Rochus are teaching artists who work with young musicians in the Sistema program. Delgado is the music director and conductor of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra and Sistema.
Moncton native, and NBYO alumnus, Kristan Toczko bested 35 fellow harp applicants to win the single spot available in this year’s orchestra.
Premier Brian Gallant joined with Ken MacLeod, CEO of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, to announce that the YOA Orchestra of the Americas will hold its residency program here from July 5-17. The orchestra is composed of musical leaders from 25 countries. MacLeod said this marks the first time the YOA Orchestra will hold its residency program in Canada.
The orchestra is led by artistic advisor Placido Domingo and includes musicians aged 18 to 30 from around the world.
MacLeod said Thursday that the residency program will be held at Crandall University in Moncton. The residency includes seminars, workshops and rehearsals for the orchestra’s big shows at the Pan-Am Games in Toronto. Following the New Brunswick Residency, YOA will travel to Toronto for two concerts at the Pan-Am Games, followed by performances at the Stratford Festival, and in Quebec at various festivals there.
The New Brunswick government is investing $30,000 towards hosting the residency program.
“These are world-class professional artists and they are coming to work and perform here,” MacLeod told the Times & Transcript. “They will be going directly from here to do the keynote performances at the Pan-Am Games in Toronto, so in a way we here in Moncton have a stake in contributing to that major event.
“Hosting the orchestra is a great opportunity to showcase New Brunswick to the world, which will in turn help us garner international investment into our economy. Young people in our province who are setting their own goals will have an opportunity to see the accomplishments that stem from hard work, discipline and determination.”
The residency also includes a faculty of principal musicians from the world’s top orchestras – the Berlin Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra of New York, the Rome Opera Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra London, and others, as well as world-class conductors, composers and guest artists.
As part of the residency program, the orchestra will stage four performances in New Brunswick, including two in Moncton and single performances in Fredericton and Saint John. MacLeod said details including dates and venues will be announced later.
“We will experience great artists, great faculty, and great music,” Mac-Leod said in the news release.“But just as important, YOA is focused on how to be engaged with their partners and the community; how to make a meaningful contribution. We will also enjoy the diverse cultural backgrounds of the musicians and their youthful fun and optimism. We are in for a treat.”
Sistema N.B. is a free after-school music program designed to inspire children and youth to achieve their full potential and to acquire the values they need to grow and to have a positive impact in society. The young Sistema members will also have an opportunity to participate in joint performance and music camp days with the YOA Orchestra of the Americas.
