The Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra (VYSO) is
youth orchestra located in
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
,
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
.
The VYSO operates out of St. James Community Square, and is a
non-profit organization
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
that performs a series of concerts to raise money for various
charities
A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good).
The legal definition of a cha ...
. It also provides musical education and development for young musicians. VYSO participates in many local, national, and international festivals, and it usually represents Vancouver. Its music director is
Roger Cole.
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. 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''.
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.''
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.
"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
*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.
See also
* List of youth orchestras
References
External links
Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra
{{authority control
Canadian orchestras
Youth orchestras
Musical groups from Vancouver
Musical groups established in 1930
1930 establishments in British Columbia