The Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 75th anniversary this season and to kick off the celebration, the VYSO's Intermediate Division is coming to the Squamish area.
From Sept. 24-26, 70 high school-aged classical musicians are bringing their violins, cellos, flutes and trumpets to rehearse at Easter Seals Camp in Squamish. They will be instructed by prominent musicians from the Vancouver area.
The weekend will culminate in a free community concert for Squamish-area residents. All are welcome to join the VYSO Intermediate Orchestra for a programme that includes Antonin Dvorak's Slavonic Dances and Schubert's Symphony No. 8 in B Minor. The concert will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday (Sept. 26) at Easter Seals Camp, rain or shine. The VYSO's Intermediate Orchestra is conducted by Jin Zhang of the New Westminster Symphony Orchestra.
Some of the Lower Mainland's most talented young musicians will be playing, including Squamish's own Sophie Demers, a 13-year-old member of the VYSO. She is a grade 8 student at Howe Sound Secondary and has been playing the clarinet for four years.
"I'm really excited because I've never played in Squamish, so now people in Squamish can finally hear us," said Sophie.
Sophie had to audition twice throughout the summer to become part of the VYSO, and is one of only five clarinet players in the 70-member squad. While Sophie feels lucky to be a part of the exclusive group of young classical musicians, she also hopes to keep playing the clarinet for years to come.
