The regionB次元官网网址檚 top young musicians will illuminate the complex but timeless scores of Bach and Beethoven this Sunday, opening the 26th season of the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra.

Considered one of the best youth orchestras in Canada, musicians as young as 11 up to those pushing their late-20s will tackle up-tempo but technically demanding pieces for their first of three concerts B次元官网网址� BachB次元官网网址檚 Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D, BeethovenB次元官网网址檚 Symphony No. 6 and HolstB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淎 Somerset Rhapsody.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭he youth orchestra is primarily a training orchestra,B次元官网网址� said musical director Yariv Aloni. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e chosen pieces that are universal for every major symphony. Playing Bach or Beethoven, the demands are the exact same as a professional orchestra.B次元官网网址�

About half of this yearB次元官网网址檚 crop of 65 budding musicians are new to the GVYO, which is typical B次元官网网址� Aloni described the orchestra as a phoenix that rebuilds itself each season.

B次元官网网址淓very fall thereB次元官网网址檚 new people. This year half the orchestra is completely new,B次元官网网址� said Aloni, a University of Victoria music instructor who has been with the youth orchestra since 2002.

B次元官网网址淏ut IB次元官网网址檓 glad to see in 10 years the level of skill hasnB次元官网网址檛 changed. I was worried IB次元官网网址檇 have to make things easier, but thatB次元官网网址檚 not the case. I can always program more complex pieces.B次元官网网址�

Aloni usually offsets one highly technical score with a few that are slightly less difficult, but he admits the three pieces selected for SundayB次元官网网址檚 concert would keep a professional orchestra on its toes. Not that he tells the young musicians one score is more demanding than another B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渋f they are told itB次元官网网址檚 hard, they think itB次元官网网址檚 hard.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚f they believe they can play it, they will play it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 always amazed at the level of skill. Usually you canB次元官网网址檛 tell itB次元官网网址檚 not a professional orchestra. Sometimes itB次元官网网址檚 not exact, but most people wouldnB次元官网网址檛 know.

B次元官网网址淔or younger musicians, (musical scores) are like seeing a movie for the first time, itB次元官网网址檚 extremely exciting. The level of energy they bring is wonderful.B次元官网网址�

Bach and Beethoven are cornerstone pieces for any symphony orchestra, but the Orchestral Suite No. 3 in particular is dear to the heart of the GVYO B次元官网网址� it was the first piece it played in its first season in 1986.

All the pieces are energized, a necessity for an orchestra mainly made up of high school students.

B次元官网网址淵ou have to figure out music that will appeal to that age. If you pick a piece that is brooding and very slow, young people will get bored,B次元官网网址� Aloni said. B次元官网网址淵ou need something that is fast. WeB次元官网网址檝e got a good mix.B次元官网网址�

Many of the young musicians go on to careers in music, in symphonies, as chamber musicians or instructors. Virtually all make careers in music, but when they start with the GVYO, most have little experience in large ensembles.

B次元官网网址淭he goal isnB次元官网网址檛 a factory of musicians, itB次元官网网址檚 to bring joy through making music,B次元官网网址� Aloni said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like a living organism where they all work together. ItB次元官网网址檚 65 people moving at the same time, moving through the notes together ... itB次元官网网址檚 incredible precision. To learn it is phenomenal.B次元官网网址�

The Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra is performing on Nov. 27, 2:30 p.m., University  of Victoria Farquhar Auditorium. See www.gvyo.org for more information.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com