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Meet the 2026 NYO Canada orchestra. Full Roster

Get your tickets hereLearn More

Concert Dates and more detailsLearn more

Introducing Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser our Music Director for 2026 and 2027Learn more

Introducing the 2026 Michael Measures Prize WinnersLearn more

Liam Ritz is the 2026 Winner of the NYO Canada & SOCAN Foundation Composer MentoLearn more

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Season AnnouncementRead Now

Latest News

NYO Canada Celebrates Two Historic Winners of the 2026 Canada Council for the Arts Michael Measures Prizes 

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NYO Canada
23 hours ago

A Stratford Sunday. 🎶
Sunday, July 19 · 4:00 PM · Avondale Church
Presented by Stratford Summer Music

Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser leads NYO Canada in Anna Clyne's Masquerade, Jordan Pal's Iris, William Grant Still's Symphony No. 2, and Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5.

🎟 LINK FOR TICKETS · www.stratfordsummermusic.ca/events/nyo
📍 Avondale Church

Jordan Pal Composer Anna Clyne Stratford Summer Music

#nyoCanada #Summer2026 #stratford #canadiana #youthorchestra #stratfordsummermusic #ssm2026 ... See MoreSee Less

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NYO Canada
2 days ago

The tour starts here. 🎶
Saturday, July 18 · 7:30 PM · Koerner Hall

Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser leads NYO Canada in Still, Elgar, and Strauss, with cellist Sabina Sandvoss - Canada Council Michael Measures Prize first-prize winner - and the world premiere of Liam Ritz's Pulse a SOCAN Foundation/NYO Canada commission.

🎟 LINK IN BIO FOR TICKETS · 📍 Koerner Hall

@koernerhall @liamritz @Danielbartholomewpoyser @SOCANFoundation @CanadaCouncilForTheArts @sabina.sandvoss.cello

#nyoCanada #Summer2026 #koerner #canadiana #youthorchestra ... See MoreSee Less

The tour starts here

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NYO Canada
5 days ago

Stratford, we're coming for you 🎻 and we've got two ways for you to hear Canada's finest young orchestral musicians this July:

🎵 July 5 · 4:00 PM - Side-by-Side concert, where our musicians share the stage with pros from Canada's top Symphonies for a performance of Beethoven's Seventh.

🎶 July 19 · 4:00 PM - A full orchestral concert: Anna Clyne's Masquerade, Jordan Pal's Iris, William Grant Still's Symphony No. 2 ("Song of a New Race"), and Prokofiev's epic Fifth.
Which one are you marking in your calendar? Tag the friend you're bringing 👇

🎟 Tickets + full lineup: stratfordsummermusic.ca/events/nyo

#nyoCanada #stratfordsummer #ExploreStratford #classicalmusic #LiveMusicOntario #stratfordsummermusic
#ssm2026 ... See MoreSee Less

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A Stratford Sunday. 🎶 Sunday, July 19 · 4:00 PM · A Stratford Sunday. 🎶 Sunday, July 19 · 4:00 PM · Avondale Church Presented by Stratford Summer Music Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser leads NYO Canada in Anna Clyne’s Masquerade, Jordan Pal’s Iris, William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 2, and Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5. 🎟 LINK IN BIO FOR TICKETS · 📍 Avondale Church @danielbartholomewpoyser @jmatthew33 @annaclynecomposer @stratfordmusic #NYOCanada #Summer2026 #Stratford #stratfordsummermusic #ssm206
The tour starts here. 🎶 Saturday, July 18 · 7:30 P The tour starts here. 🎶 Saturday, July 18 · 7:30 PM · Koerner Hall Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser leads NYO Canada in Still, Elgar, and Strauss, with cellist Sabina Sandvoss - Canada Council for the Arts Michael Measures Prize first-prize winner, and the world premiere of Liam Ritz’s Pulse a SOCAN Foundation/NYO Canada commission. 🎟 LINK IN BIO FOR TICKETS · 📍 Koerner Hall @royalconservatoryevents @lritzritz @danielbartholomewpoyser @socanfdn @canada.council @sabinasandvosscello #NYOCanada #Summer2026 #Koerner #Canadiana #youthorchestra
🎵 Thankful Thursday | @tapestryopera & Nancy’s Ver 🎵 Thankful Thursday | @tapestryopera & Nancy’s Very Own Foundation Partnerships are how the future of Canadian music is built. And this year, that partnership has a name: Monica Chen. ✨ Monica joins us as our 2026 Women in Musical Leadership Associate Conductor, the third year of our collaboration with Tapestry Opera’s WML initiative, championing women and non-binary conductors on the podium. Monica is the kind of conductor this program was built for: RBC Assistant Conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (40+ performances since 2023), Music Director at the University of Manitoba and Sistema Winnipeg, a regular guest across Canadian orchestras, and a former fellow under Yannick Nézet-Séguin at Orchestre Métropolitain’s Conducting Academy. We feel so privileged to partner with Tapestry Opera and Nancy’s Very Own Foundation. Together, we’re making sure that historic imbalances aren’t what the future of music in Canada looks like. 🎶
🎶🇨🇦 A new Music Director. A world premiere. A summ 🎶🇨🇦 A new Music Director. A world premiere. A summer worth travelling for. The 2026 Canadiana Tour brings Canada’s finest young orchestral musicians (and incoming Music Director Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser) to six cities across Ontario and Québec, with the world premiere of Pulse by Canadian composer Liam Ritz alongside Prokofiev, Strauss, Elgar, Mozart, William Grant Still, Clyne, Boulanger, and Pal. 📍 Toronto · July 18 📍 Stratford · July 19 📍 Parry Sound · July 22 📍 Kingston · July 23 📍 Ottawa · July 26 📍 Saint-Irénée · July 31 🎟 Reserve your seat 🔗 link in bio. #NYOCanada #CanadianaTour #CanadianMusic #ClassicalMusic #OrchestraLife
The 2026 Canadiana Tour is coming. 🎶🇨🇦 This July, The 2026 Canadiana Tour is coming. 🎶🇨🇦 This July, Canada's finest young orchestral musicians take the stage across Ontario and Quebec. 📍 Toronto · July 18 · 7:30 p.m. 📍 Stratford · July 19 · 4:00 p.m. 📍 Parry Sound · July 22 · 7:00 p.m. 📍 Kingston · July 23 · 7:30 p.m. 📍 Ottawa · July 26 · 7:00 p.m. 📍 Saint-Irénée · July 31 · 4:00 p.m. A program for the ages: Prokofiev, Strauss, Elgar, Mozart, William Grant Still, Clyne, Boulanger, Pal - and a world premiere from Canadian composer @lritzritz Liam Ritz. All of it, under the baton of new Music Director @danielbartholomewpoyser Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser. 🎟 Reserve your seat - link in bio. #NYOCanada #CanadianaTour #CanadianMusic #ClassicalMusic #OrchestraLife
💙 May is Mental Health Month. Thank you, J&W Murph 💙 May is Mental Health Month. Thank you, J&W Murphy Foundation and to our complete Mental Health and Wellness team 💙 for your care for the artists in our charge. 🎓 Dr. John McMillan | One-on-One Online Therapy 🎓 Matt Eldridge | One-on-One Online & In-Person Therapy 🎓 Dr. Marshall Chasin | Auditory Wellness 🎓Sara Brooks | Registered Psychotherapist | Performance Anxiety & Musician Mental Health 🎓 Tom Allen | Voice, Self-knowledge, and Identity 🎓 Kathryn Knowles | Music Finance & Career Development 🎓 Sara-Lynn Weiler | Registered Massage Therapy & Athletic Therapy 🎶Thank you, J&W Murphy Foundation, for six years of believing that taking care of musicians is taking care of music itself. 💙 #ThankfulThursday #NYOCanada #MentalHealthMonth #MusicianWellness #CanadianMusic
🎵 #ThankfulThursday | J&W Murphy Foundation "Than 🎵 #ThankfulThursday | J&W Murphy Foundation "Thank you for providing these tools. I had an excellent experience with the therapist I worked with — she was outstanding." — NYO Canada Musician, 2025 The music industry is hard on the people inside it — 86% of workers report anxiety symptoms (Soundcheck, 2026). For six years, the J&W Murphy Foundation has made sure NYO musicians don't face that pressure alone. Their support funds the largest musician-specific wellness team of its kind in Canada: 🎶 Dr. Sara Brooks — performance anxiety & musician mental health 🎶 Dr. John McMillan & Matt Eldridge — one-on-one therapy 🎶 Dr. Marshall Chasin — auditory health (Musicians' Clinics of Canada) 🎶 Sara-Lynn Weiler — RMT & athletic therapy (Guidonian Therapy Clinic) 🎶 Kathryn Knowles — music finance & career coaching (new this year!) 🎶 Tom Allen — self-knowledge and storytelling 🎶 Christie Gray + Monica Chen — Women in the Arts May is Mental Health Month. We celebrate it the way we live it — with concrete care for the artists in our charge. Thank you, J&W Murphy Foundation. 💙 #ThankfulThursday #NYOCanada #MentalHealthMonth #MusicianWellness #CanadianMusic
🎻 A second summer, a second honour! We're thrilled 🎻 A second summer, a second honour! We're thrilled to celebrate Félix Nunes, cellist from Montréal, QC, as he returns to NYO Canada in 2026, this time as a recipient of the Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation Award of Excellence! Félix once again earns this recognition for his exceptional artistry, dedication, and the hard work he brings to every rehearsal and performance. We could not be prouder to welcome him back to the stage. 🎶 A sincere thank you to the Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation, whose ongoing generosity champions the next generation of Canadian classical musicians. 📍 Catch Félix live this summer as NYO Canada tours from Toronto to Saint-Irénée! 🎟️ Tour details - link in bio #NYOCanada #SirErnestMacMillanFoundation #AwardOfExcellence #CanadianMusicians #FutureOfMusic #NYO66 #YouthOrchestra #Cello
🎵 #ThankfulThursday | J&W Murphy Foundation 86% o 🎵 #ThankfulThursday | J&W Murphy Foundation 86% of Canadian music workers report anxiety symptoms. 72% say stigma keeps them from seeking help. Those are findings from Soundcheck, Canada's first national study on mental health in the music industry, released this January. Six years ago — before the data made the case obvious — the J&W Murphy Foundation stepped up. Their investment funds 82% of NYO Canada's Mental Health & Wellness program: confidential therapy, body work, hearing care, financial literacy training, and dedicated career mentorship for every one of the 90 young musicians who join us each summer. "NYO provides amazing physical and mental health resources, which have helped me stay grounded and positively energized." — Mathilde Lepage, horn Thank you, J&W Murphy Foundation, for six years of believing that taking care of musicians is taking care of music itself. 💙 #ThankfulThursday #NYOCanada #MentalHealthMonth #MusicianWellness #CanadianMusic
🎹 Join us in celebrating Jonathan Alter @alter.jon 🎹 Join us in celebrating Jonathan Alter @alter.jonathan, a keyboardist from Toronto, ON, and a 2026 recipient of the Audrey S. Hellyer Award of Excellence! Jonathan's passion for sharing music across Canada is rivalled only by his gratitude for tuition-free programs like NYO that open doors for young artists from coast to coast. "Music plays a crucial role in building a sense of belonging in me ... Music allows me to communicate so many emotions and stories that can transcend words and language to an audience, and performing with others is one of the greatest joys I experience." 🎶 Huge thanks to the Audrey S. Hellyer Charitable Foundation, whose generous support continues to make these opportunities possible. 📍 Catch Jonathan live this summer as NYO Canada tours from Toronto to Saint-Irénée! 🎟️ Tour details - link in bio #NYOCanada #AudreyHellyerFoundation #AwardOfExcellence #CanadianMusicians #FutureOfMusic #NYO66 #YouthOrchestra #Keyboard
🎼 Announcing our 2026 repertoire! 🎻 We are thrill 🎼 Announcing our 2026 repertoire! 🎻 We are thrilled to share the music NYO Canada will bring to stages across the country this summer, and to mark a major milestone: the inaugural season of our new Music Director, Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser! Under his baton, the orchestra steps into a season of romanticism, Canadian voices, and orchestral storytelling, including a brand-new NYO Canada commission from Canadian composer Liam Ritz, supported by the @socanfdn SOCAN Foundation. 🎵 The 2026 Repertoire: 🔹 William Grant Still | Symphony No. 2, “Song of a New Race” 🔹 Edward Elgar | Cello Concerto in E minor, op. 85 🔹 Sergei Prokofiev | Symphony No. 5, op. 100, in B-flat major 🔹 Anna Clyne | Masquerade 🔹 Richard Strauss | Der Rosenkavalier Suite 🔹 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Overture to The Impresario, K. 486 🔹 Jordan Pal (Canadian) | Iris 🔹 Liam Ritz (Canadian) | Pulse (NYO Canada commission, supported by the SOCAN Foundation) 🔹 Lili Boulanger | D’un soir triste 🗓 2026 Canadian Tour: 📍 Toronto | Sat, July 18 | 7:30 p.m. 📍 Stratford | Sun, July 19 | 4:00 p.m. 📍 Parry Sound | Wed, July 22 | 7:00 p.m. 📍 Kingston | Thu, July 23 | 7:30 p.m. 📍 Ottawa | Sun, July 26 | 7:00 p.m. 📍 Saint-Irénée | Fri, July 31 | 4:00 p.m. 🎟 Tickets | link in bio #NYOCanada2026 #YouthOrchestra #ClassicalMusic #LiveOrchestra #SymphonicMusic
🎻 Join us in celebrating Mio Nakajo @mio_n0902 , a 🎻 Join us in celebrating Mio Nakajo @mio_n0902 , a violinist from Vancouver, B.C. and a 2026 recipient of a BMO Award of Excellence! Mio’s passion for sharing music across Canada is rivalled only by her gratitude for tuition-free programs like NYO that open doors for young artists from coast to coast. “A large part of my life involves people who are as passionate about music as I am. The connections I build in this community are uplifting and motivational. I enjoy performing music, and I love that the audience is able to interpret the music in a way that is meaningful to them.” 🎶 Huge thanks to BMO Financial Group @BMO , whose generous support continues to make these opportunities possible. 📍 Catch Mio live this summer as NYO Canada tours from Toronto to Saint-Irénée! 🎟️ Tour details - link in bio #NYOCanada #BMO #CanadianMusicians #WomenInMusic #FutureOfMusic
🎻 Your summer plans just got way more interesting. 🎻 Your summer plans just got way more interesting. What does the future of orchestral music sound like? Come find out. NYO Canada’s 2026 tour, led by new Music Director Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser. July 18–31. Six cities. 🎟 Tickets in bio. #NYOCanada2026 #NYO66 #SummerTour #Orchestralmusic #canadianmusic
🎵 #ThankfulThursday | Audrey S. Hellyer Charitable 🎵 #ThankfulThursday | Audrey S. Hellyer Charitable Foundation “Such a pleasure to be selected by NYO this year… I will be playing principal clarinet chair in Mahler Symphony No. 5, one of the largest pieces in classical music. It’s such a wonderful opportunity to not only play beautiful solo parts but also work with lots of great teachers and colleagues. Thank you so much for making this happen!” — Alec Pin Kan, 2019 Scholarship Recipient From funding a single scholarship to sponsoring a full Award of Excellence, the Audrey S. Hellyer Charitable Foundation has grown right alongside the musicians they’ve championed. Their generosity has shaped careers and opened doors for young Canadians who needed someone to believe in them. Since 2019, the Hellyer Foundation has supported: 🎶 Jonathan Lòpez (2019) · Alec Pin Kan (2019) 🎶 Eugene Zhang (2021) · Lucia Warren (2021) 🎶 Samuel Hughes (2022) · Mobin Naeini (2022) 🎶 Abigail Minor (2024) · Cassandra Wolff (2024) 🎶 Kendal Morrison (2025) · Claire Qiu (2025) In their own words: “Overall one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Truly an amazing summer with the best people. I’m so beyond thankful ...Thank you for everything ❤️” Abigail Minor, 2024 “The best thing is undoubtedly the people that you meet. NYO Canada was an amazing opportunity to meet all kinds of people in all different stages of their music journey.” Claire Qiu, 2025 “NYO Canada was an amazing experience, and I’ve grown incredibly as a musician through this program. I can’t wait to come back next year!” Kendal Morrison, 2025 Thank you, Audrey S. Hellyer Charitable Foundation, for believing in young musicians. #ThankfulThursday #NYOCanada #AwardOfExcellence #CanadianMusic YoungMusicians
“I still think auditions for schools or jobs are 5 “I still think auditions for schools or jobs are 50/50. Half of the success is born out of hard work, attentive work and careful practice and the other half is straight up luck.” NYO alum Bobby Thompson gets real about auditions - from the preparation to what they’re actually looking for. Bobby’s practical advice: Start your preparation as soon as applications come out Record yourself and track your progress Have a couple reeds secured at least a week beforehand Play for the faculty you want to study with before auditions Play the pieces YOU do best - “Don’t play the super flashy or technically challenging piece if it’s not what shows off your best abilities” “It’s important to remember that they’re not looking for perfection, they want to hear your character in your playing and know that you can adapt and learn new things quickly and effectively.” Bobby just won the bassoon position with Orchestre symphonique de Québec while finishing his master’s at Juilliard. #NYOCanada #NYOAlumni #AuditionAdvice #MusicStudents #Bassoon
🎶✨ NYO Canada’s 65th Anniversary Tour CD is here 🎶✨ NYO Canada’s 65th Anniversary Tour CD is here Captured live at @chancentreubc , conducted by Music Director @woonaomiwoo . From Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10 to Mozart, Debussy’s La Mer, Ethel Smyth’s Wreckers Overture, and @dentonprotsack ‘s World Premier Across the Vaulted Night...this is a programme that only NYO Canada could bring to life. Swipe through to explore every track. 🎧 LINK IN BIO TO KEEP LISTENING
🎵 Thankful Thursday | @longandmcquade Long & McQua 🎵 Thankful Thursday | @longandmcquade Long & McQuade Musical Instruments "It's not an exaggeration when I say I owe my entire career to NYO." — Honoka Shoji, harpist & NYO Canada alumna Honoka received an Award of Excellence in 2023 — support made possible by Long & McQuade. She couldn't have attended without it. Neither could Robert Conquer, Roberta Yee, Justin Saulnier, Samuel Kerr, or Solana Frebold. Financial barriers are real. Partnerships like this one make sure they don't have the final word. 🌟 #ThankfulThursday #NYOCanada #LongAndMcQuade #CanadianMusic #YoungMusicians 📷 Photo 1: Honoka Shoji 📷 Photo 2: Robert Conquer - Photo credit Shayne Gray Photography 📷 Photo 3: Roberta Yee 📷 Photo 4: Justin Saulnier - Photo credit Anastasia Krachkovskaya (https://www.anak.photography/) 📷 Photo 5: Samuel Kerr - Photo credit June Chung (www.junechungviolin.com) 📷 Photo 6: Solana Frebold - Photo credit Dahlia Katz Photography
The future of Canadian music is from St. John’s an The future of Canadian music is from St. John’s and Vancouver and Montréal and everywhere in between. They practised for years for this moment, and this summer, it’s coming to a stage near you. NYO Canada’s Canadiana 2026 Tour brings 90 of the country’s most exceptional young musicians to audiences across Ontario and Québec. Landmark repertoire. Free chamber concerts. A world premiere. And performances that will take your breath away. Explore the full season brochure at the 🔗 in our bio #nyocanada #classicalmusic #orchestra #canadianmusicians #youngmusicians
From NYO Canada to Canada’s oldest orchestra: Bass From NYO Canada to Canada’s oldest orchestra: Bassoonist Bobby Thompson just won the bassoon position with Orchestre symphonique de Québec. Bobby, currently finishing his master’s degree at Juilliard, took the audition on November 30th, 2025 at Palais Montcalm - and didn’t let external distractions interfere with his calm mindset. “I was not thinking about the end goal or potentially winning, I focused on the specific excerpts coming up and remaining calm, trusting the work I had done for months in advance would stick.” On joining OSQ: “It feels humbling and still not quite real yet. The OSQ has a deep history and an awesome legacy as being a great Canadian orchestra and I want to focus on just playing my best, being myself, and continuing an environment of kind, expressive music making.”
🥁 Meet the Percussion, Keyboard & Harp Faculty! 🥁 🥁 Meet the Percussion, Keyboard & Harp Faculty! 🥁 Rencontrez les professeurs de percussion, clavier et harpe! 🥁 — PERCUSSION — 🎓 Aiyun Huang | Jun 21–28 juin 🎓 Ryan Scott | Jun 28 juin–Jul 5 juillet 🎓 John Rudolph | Jul 5 juin –12 juillet — KEYBOARD | CLAVIER — 🎓 Geoffrey Conquer | Jun 21 juin –Jul 12 juillet — HARP | HARPE — 🎓 Lori Gemmell | Jun 21 juin –Jul 1 juillet 🎓 Isabelle Fortier | Jul 1–12 juillet 🎶 Link in bio to meet the full faculty. 🎶 Consultez le lien en bio pour voir tous les profs. #NYOCanada #NYO2026 #keyboard #Percussion #harp
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NYO Canada

Canada's pre-eminent training Orchestra for musicians ages 16 to 28.

  • About
    • Overview
    • Board of Directors
    • Careers
    • Land Acknowledgment
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    • Upload My Audition
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    • Deadlines
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