Orchestras Canada

September 30, October 1 and 2 mark year 2 for Culture Days and the 15th anniversary of les Journées de la Culture. Here’s a quick round up – east to west, more or less – of the orchestral activity we were able to identify via media releases from member orchestras, as well as the user-friendly [...]

Read the full story

Late last week, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra announced that Fugitive Colours, its new recording of the orchestral music of Jeffrey Ryan, would inaugurate Naxos Records’ new Naxos Canadian Classics – Classiques Canadiens imprint. The CD celebrates Dr. Ryan’s 5 years as composer in residence with the VSO, and all works on the disc are conducted [...]

Read the full story

Congratulations to the Regina Symphony Orchestra, which announced a remarkable $203,121 in funds raised for the new RSO Education & Outreach Fund following its first-ever opening night gala. Over $100,000 has been pledged towards this season’s programs, with the rest of the funds going towards future years. Five thousand students will take part in the [...]

Read the full story

Meanwhile, the National Arts Centre has reported that its 15th annual National Arts Centre Gala netted $­­­­621,000, funds that will go to the National Arts Centre’s National Youth and Education Trust. The sold­out event (which included a concert and an on­-stage, post­-concert dinner) featured Sarah McLachlan, her band, the National Arts Centre Orchestra (augmented by [...]

Read the full story

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra has announced a new partnership with the city’s Seven Oaks School Division to launch Manitoba’s first­-ever Sistema-­inspired program. The program – slated to start in October – will include an intensive, free, three­-hour daily program, at which members of the WSO will teach. Their efforts are supported by staff provided by [...]

Read the full story

What differences do orchestras’ performances for school audiences make to music education? Over the past two years, eight Canadian orchestras have been involved in a collaborative evaluation of their education program activities. The results are impressive. Across Canada, students and teachers have articulated the high value they place on attending symphony performance and utilizing support [...]

Read the full story

We’ve marvelled at the ways that some of the larger orchestras have adopted a concierge model for their patrons, uniting box office service, donor stewardship initiatives, and opportunities for contact with artistic decision makers.  Until recently, though, we weren’t sure how a smaller-budget organization might adapt this model. That changed when we got an email [...]

Read the full story

The Oakville Ensemble, a professional choir and orchestra led by Stéphane Potvin, has announced its 2011-12 season. The season – the group’s fifth – includes a Saturday night classics series and a new Sunday afternoon family series as well. Programs include a celebration of music of the German Reformation, Handel’s Messiah, a program of love [...]

Read the full story

To celebrate the appointment of its new music director Judith Yan, the Guelph Symphony Orchestra has just launched a sparkling new website. The site was designed by Madog Communications. www.guelphsymphony.com

Read the full story

The Cultural Careers Council of Ontario and Canadian Women in Communications have launched the Digital Convergence Executive Series, with three action-packed days of presentation and discussion on the opportunities and challenges of pursuing (and monetizing) digital strategies. The events run September 29, October 12 and November 16, and take place at Blakes LLP in downtown [...]

Read the full story