March 27th, 2020

Consistent with advice from governments and public health officials, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYO Canada) will be canceling its 2020 Canadian tour, as well as its residential training institute in Kitchener-Waterloo. This announcement follows NYO Canada’s earlier decision to cancel the European leg of the tour, which was to have taken the Orchestra to Italy, Germany, and Croatia. The decision comes in light of increasing federal, provincial and municipal restrictions, and the need by students, families, and the faculty for clarity as they consider their plans for the summer.

“While it is very disappointing to cancel the Canadian tour and training institute in addition to the international concerts, the wellbeing of our students, staff, faculty, and audiences must be our top priority,” says Kevin Latimer, QC, Chair of the Board of Directors. “With Canada, Europe and the United States now effectively closed to travelers, we have no choice but to cancel our tour and residential training institute.”

NYO Canada is now one of the world’s leading and most comprehensive orchestral youth training institutes. The 2020 “Generations” tour, marking its 60th anniversary, was to have been one of the most extensive in its history.

‘’NYO Canada searched far and wide to find the best young musicians for the ‘Generations’ tour,” says CEO Barbara Smith. “We don’t want to miss the chance to work with these outstanding young talents. We will offer each one of our 2020 musicians a place next year, without the need to re-audition. We are an orchestra, and that means we work together to overcome challenges.”

We are proud of our outstanding students and recognize how disappointing this is. NYO Canada is planning an even more exciting tour, which we will announce once the threat of COVID-19 is behind us.

We will work with our 2020 sponsors and loyal donors on an individual basis to mitigate the financial impact on operations, and ensure we emerge stronger than ever when we come back.

For more information about COVID-19, please visit the World Health Organization and Government of Canada websites.

For media inquiries, please contact Kate Eccles at 647-678-0154 or Emily Dunbar at 416-532-4470 ext. 225.