Three years ago, the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra launched a guest conductor program, “to inspire and develop talent within the youth orchestra”.  This year, with the launch of Sistema New Brunswick and the opening of the NBYO’s first Sistema Centre in Moncton, the NBYO invited a guest conductor (and product of the famed El Sistema program) from Venezuela to lead them, and it’s not just a fly-in weekend visit, either!  Maestro Antonio Delgado is spending the entire month of January with the NBYO and Sistema New Brunswick, teaching and mentoring at the Centre, leading youth orchestra rehearsals and sharing the podium with NBYO music director Dr. James Mark in concert, as well. 

Maestro Delgado has conducted every major orchestra in Venezuela, and has worked in Ecuador and Puerto Rico. Currently, he is in charge of the Musical Direction of the National Theatre “Teresa Carreño“, where he conducts the major Venezuelan orchestras in Symphonic concerts, Ballets, and Operas.

Another highlight of the guest-conducted concert?  The musicians of the NBYO were joined on stage by all thirteen members of the NBYO faculty, including David Adams and Paul Campbell, violin; Chris Buckley, viola; Sonja Adams, cello; Andrew Miller, bass; Karin Aurell, flute; Belinda Code, oboe; Jean-Guy Boisvert, clarinet; Robert Lewis, bassoon; James Code, horn; Richard Gibson, trumpet; Richard Kidd, trombone; tuba; and Michel Deschênes, percussion.

For more information about the NBYO, please visit their website here.