KEY FACTS ABOUT THE NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF CANADA

-  The NYOC’s primary focus is to provide world-class training to Canada’s best young orchestral musicians.

-  In 2010, the NYOC celebrated its 50-year anniversary.

-  In 2009, the NYOC was nominated for Classical Album of the Year, at the Juno Awards (Canadian music awards)

-  The NYOC received the prestigious title, “best youth orchestra in the world” at the World Youth Orchestra conference in Tokyo and again in Edinburgh.

-  40 percent of professional orchestral musicians in Canada are NYOC alumni.

-  Students applying for the NYOC are between the ages 16-28.

-  Over 500 students apply annually for 90-100 coveted spaces. Returning students must reapply each year.

-  Auditions take place in major cities across Canada. Students play challenging excerpts of orchestral repertoire, which are recorded and judged by NYOC faculty.

-  The NYOC residency takes place from June to August.

-  The NYOC’s training session consists of full orchestral rehearsals, sectionals, private lessons and career development workshops.

-  NYOC training sessions take place six days a week, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. In fact, it is nicknamed  “orchestral boot camp.”

-  Each year, the NYOC commissions a new piece of work from a Canadian composer.

-  In 2009, the NYOC introduced a chamber music program – ten days of extra training for small ensembles. In 2010, this program will be expanded.

-  The NYOC offers students the opportunity to build solid networking contacts locally and nationally.

-  The NYOC’s training program offers more hours of practical orchestral training in one summer than most university programs offer in one year.

-  The NYOC is the only summer music institute that offers a comprehensive program, including tour, with no tuition.

-  The NYOC attracts the ‘best of the best’ from Canada’s youth orchestras and music programs.