Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra


The Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra for the youths located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The VYSO operates out of St. James Community Square, and is a non-profit organization that performs a series of concerts to raise money for various charities. 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.