National Youth Orchestra of Canada


The National Youth Orchestra of Canada is a Canadian youth orchestra located in Waterloo, Ontario. As of 2013, it has been one of the world's-longest-operating youth orchestras. The orchestra has given concert tours in every major Canadian city as well as trips to other countries, including the United States, Japan, China and countries in Europe. About 30% of the musicians in Canadian orchestras have previously played in the NYOC.

History

The National Youth Orchestra was founded in 1960 by Walter Suskind, conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, to help young musicians gain experience needed to play in professional orchestras.
At the World Youth Orchestra Conference in Tokyo, Japan, in 1996, the NYOC was voted "Best Youth Orchestra in the World".
Georg Tintner conducted the orchestra for a number of years, ending in 1989.
In 2009 the orchestra for the first time performed a concert which was streamed in its entirety over the internet.
In 2017 the orchestra commissioned a large art installation titled Four Seasons of the Canadian Flag, to be displayed as part of their tour in the year of Canada's 150th birthday.
In 2018 the orchestra traveled to Scotland to perform at the Edinburgh International Festival.

Performance halls

The orchestra has performed in the following notable concert halls.