On May 18, the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra (VYSO) held their 95 year anniversary concert at the Orpheum. The concert featured performances from the debut, junior, intermediate and senior orchestras, as well as guest performer and VYSO graduate Joanna G’Froerer.
The debut orchestra is the VYSO’s introductory team for musicians aged 8 to 10 years old. Conducted by Nadia Petriw, they played “Downtown Suite For Strings” by Jay-Martin Pinner. The three part piece, representing the park, library and main street, brought the sounds of a modern city to musical life.
Then the junior orchestra (ages 10 to 12) took the stage, conducted by Dr. Rick Dorfer. A highlight of this section was Felix Mendelssohn’s "String Symphony No. 2," exemplary of the flowing strings that characterized much of the concert’s first half.
The debut and junior orchestras then combined for a performance of the soundtrack to How to Train Your Dragon. The string orchestra, despite lacking the trumpet normally symbolic of the climax of the piece, was able to create the rousing atmosphere the score is famous for.
The most dramatic moment of the day, though, was achieved by the intermediate orchestra (ages 12 to 14) and its conductor Jin Zhang. Their performance of Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 was the first piece after the intermission. Any concertgoers still lagging in the hall were soon brought back to the auditorium by rousing melodies and booming brass from the back of the stage.
This was the kind of performance that reminded the audience that music is not just something to listen to, but to experience. The audience seemed quieter, in awe of the music filling the grand Orpheum.
This symphony, entitled “From the New World,” reflects how Dvorak was inspired by the rhythms and nature of North America. A fitting selection for a concert celebrating the musical heritage of one of North America’s most beautiful cities.
This was Zhang’s last performance with the VYSO, and he left with a bang, receiving a triumphant standing ovation upon the conclusion of Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1. The audience clapped along, recognizing the emotional moment, until the music stopped, and the bows were met with full minutes of applause.
The senior orchestra, (ages 14 to 18), conducted by artistic director Jonathan Girard, provided a masterful rendition of Oskar Morawetz’s Carnival Overture. They were then accompanied by soloist G’Froerer for a mesmerizing performance of Gordeli’s Flute Concerto Op. 8.
To sound off, the VYSO’s intermediate and senior orchestras joined together to play “Sky Chase”, a piece originally written for the VYSO by the late composer Bramwell Tovey. This was a fantastic commemoration of Tovey’s contribution to music in Vancouver, and a dynamic and fitting end to the afternoon.
Prior to attending the concert, I spoke with Girard about the importance of youth involvement with music and his career in orchestral music.
He stressed the concert’s sense of celebration and commemoration, marked by the combinations of the debut and junior, as well as the intermediate and senior orchestras on the same stage. “Almost everything has a significant Canadian connection, and a connection to youth,” he said.
The orchestra itself was given a lot of free reign in piece selection, but inclusions like “Sky Chase" were important in honouring VYSO’s graduates and its extensive 95 year history.
“It’s really wonderful to bring someone back and show the young musicians how important this time was in the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra,” said Girard, noting that G’Froerer’s return to the VYSO shows members the possible career opportunities in music.
Girard also emphasized how music can be a great way to meet people, and is in turn enhanced by this.
“There's a diversity of people here, it's an incredible place to make music, because there's so much natural beauty around that inspires you as a musician.”
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