The Kawartha Youth Orchestra (KYO) is presenting a winter concert called “Going Home for the Holidays” on Sunday evening (December 7) in downtown Peterborough, with donations supporting the non-profit organization’s programs to nurture the next generation of musicians.
Featuring the KYO’s senior, intermediate, and junior orchestras as well as the jazz band and percussion band, the evening includes works from Czech composer Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9, also known as the New World Symphony, as well as some holiday favourites.
“This concert has lots of music centered around the idea of home,” KYO lead conductor Murray Lefebvre told kawarthaNOW. “Many composers over the years have written about their home countries and try to evoke that feeling through the sound of an orchestra.”
As well as performances throughout the concert of excerpts of movements from Dvorak’s New World Symphony, the concert will conclude with a joint performance from all three orchestras of “Goin’ Home”, an alternate title to symphony’s second movement.
Audience members will also “get to feel the coziness of a wintery evening at home through some holiday favourites,” Lefebvre said.
“Our KYO musicians have been working very hard since September on this concert, and we are proud that they continuously work hard to become better musicians,” he added. “We have also seen our numbers increase in all levels of the orchestras, showing how eager people are to participate in the joy of music.”
The concert takes place in Wesley Hall at the KYO’s new home at the New Canadians Centre on Romaine Street (the St. James United Church building), with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. for at 6 p.m. start.
All KYO concerts are pay what you can, with proceeds supporting the KYO’s bursary and fee subsidy programs and the Upbeat! youth program, which makes music accessible to children and teenagers in Peterborough.
“Come out to see us in our lovely new space, as well as to support music education in the Kawarthas,” Lefebvre said.
Through the December 7 concert, the KYO hopes its students gain confidence and experience they can use going forward by participating in a multi-orchestra performance of this kind.
In addition, another successful outcome of the event would be a great turnout by the Peterborough community, said Samantha Haggstrom, administrative assistant and Upbeat! program coordinator.
She hopes “many members of our community will come out and see the thriving, impactful youth music programs that the KYO provides and that funds raised via donations at the door will keep music programs accessible and affordable for youth in our community.”
That includes KYO’s Upbeat! after-school music program, which is still going strong because of community support. Upbeat! offers musical education, childcare, meals, and instrument access for young musicians in grades 3 to 8.
Upbeat!’s string classes, two ensembles, and the Upbeat! choir will also be performing a winter concert in Wesley Hall on Tuesday (December 9).
KYO welcomes donations ahead of the concerts and contributions from those who want to support musical education but can’t attend an event. For more details and to donate, visit www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/8845.
