The Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra: A Brief History

In the summer of 1986 distinguished British musician Stuart Knussen sat down with a few teachers and parents to confide his consuming passion to found a youth orchestra in Victoria.  After a lifetime of music making (Knussen was described by Bruno Walter and Vladimir Ashkenazy as the world’s finest bass player), he wanted young musicians to discover the joy of bringing to life the great masterpieces of music. His dream very soon grew into a lively, musically challenging reality, as 40 young musicians came together in early September to rehearse Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony.  The GVYO was born.  Despite Knussen’s sudden death in 1990, his vision has been kept alive and strengthened by the dedication of the young musicians and an extraordinary array of gifted conductors.

The orchestra began its second decade with the appointment of János Sándor as Music Director.  Mr. Sándor, a prize-winning graduate of the Franz Liszt Academy, Budapest, is not only a musician of considerable and widespread experience; he is also an individual who cares deeply about the musical and personal development of the youths in his charge. Keeping the orchestra’s mandate in clear sight, János Sándor has encouraged and enabled the GVYO to meet the challenges of demanding repertoire.  The orchestra’s position in the community is solidly established, and its reputation is respected across the country.

At the beginning of the seventeenth season, Yariv Aloni was appointed Associate Music Director.  A respected conductor and violist, formerly with the Aviv and Penderecki Quartets, Mr. Aloni has been involved with the GVYO since 1994.   He works closely with the Music Director to challenge our young musicians to achieve the highest standards of instrumental and musical discipline.

Our orchestra strongly believes in its outreach to other youth, and over the years it has presented concerts and workshops for countless students in schools throughout the Pacific Northwest.  The GVYO offers a stage for orchestra members to perform solo repertoire, with nearly 50 young soloists benefiting from these ‘stepping stone’ opportunities. Every year GVYO players are selected for positions in prestigious ensembles such as the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, the Jeunesse Musicales World Youth Orchestra, and summer Festivals at Banff, Orford, Aspen and Tanglewood.  Our supporters have endowed scholarships permitting players to pursue further studies.  GVYO alumni have won posts in universities, conservatories and musical ensembles worldwide. Equally important, they are becoming the informed audience in our concert halls. Whatever their profession, their lives will be enriched by the presence of music.

 

GVYO Highlights

Commissions
Matthew Larkin, At the Round Earth’s Imagined Corners (XV Commonwealth Games)
John Oliver Millennial Moments (10th anniversary commission)
Christopher Butterfield, Triple Expansion, for multiple orchestras (20th anniversary commission)
Collaborations
With Victoria Symphony: Holst The Planets, Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique, Tchaikovsky Sleeping Beauty Suite, Chatman Crimson Dream, Elgar Enigma Variations, Mahler Symphony No. 1
With UVIC Orchestra and Chorus:  Mahler Symphony of A Thousand
With Pearson College (Larkin Commission), CapriCCio (Bernstein Chichester Psalms), VIVA Youth Choirs and UVIC Chamber Choir (Carmina Burana)
Distinguished Guest Conductors and Performers
Yehudi Menuhin, Georg Tintner, Simon Streatfeild, Ben Heppner, Jonathan Crow (GVYO alumnus)
Command Performances
For Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson, Lieutenants-Governor David Lam and Iona Campagnolo
Tours
Concerts and workshops for audiences and countless school students on Vancouver Island, Lower Mainland, Okanagan, Northern Mainland, Haida Gwaii and Yukon Territory

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