NYO Canada announces new CEO

October 7, 2022

This spring, NYO Canada announced Barbara Smith’s retirement as CEO after twenty years of exceptional leadership. The Board of Directors is delighted to share that Christie Gray has been selected as its new CEO and will assume the position on November 10, 2022.

Christie is currently the Executive Director of Sistema Toronto, a non-profit which uses music education to transform the lives of children in vulnerable communities. Over her 20-year career, Christie has worked with the Royal Conservatory of Music in market and brand development and forged deep relationships with funders and philanthropic partners to expand programs and impact. Christie is trained in violin performance and has followed NYO’s many successes from her youth.

“Christie’s passion and expertise for music education were evident from our first interview. While we attracted interest from across the country, Christie stood out for her commitment to youth, her ability to build NYO’s fundraising capacity, and her track record of introducing diverse communities to classical music,” said Kevin Latimer, NYO’s Chair of the Board.

“I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to lead Canada’s leading youth training orchestra and look forward to working with staff, the Board, students and faculty to carry out Barbara’s legacy,“ said Christie. “I see incredible potential to engage under-represented groups in the performance and enjoyment of classical music. NYO is well positioned to be a leader in inspiring greater diversity and removing barriers.”

“My heart will always be with NYO and it’s a true honour to leave the organization in Christie’s most capable hands. I’ll be a keen audience member for many years to come,” reflected Barbara Smith.

NYO conducted a national search with the support of a global executive search firm. The Search Committee of the Board conducted a rigorous and thorough process and is thrilled that Christie has agreed to lead the organization into the future.

The National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYO) is a not-for-profit charitable organization with the mission to recruit the best young classical musicians from across Canada and prepare them for careers as professional orchestral musicians. Since its founding in 1960, NYO has evolved into an internationally recognized incubator for young orchestral musicians and is now considered among the leading youth orchestras in the world.