History
The Saskatoon Youth Orchestra (SYO) was established in 1958 by Murray Adaskin as the Saskatoon Junior Symphony. The current organization dates from 1983, when Wayne Toews and George Charpentier worked with a committee of parents to develop an independent incorporated organization.
The SYO consists of three programs. The Saskatoon Youth Orchestra is a full orchestra for players aged 13 to 21. The organization also has a string orchestra for young players called the Saskatoon Strings, directed by Bernadette Wilson, and a Double Bass program, instructed by Richard Carnegie. Members study privately and audition for membership.
The Canadian Music Educators’ Association has awarded the SYO the Christopher Gledhill Award six successive times, in recognition of performance excellence. The orchestra has been the subject of CBC and CTV documentaries. The orchestra has been on tour in recent years at locales such as Banff, Montréal, Edmonton, and southern Manitoba.
The SYO has consistently included works by Canadian composers in its repertoire. In addition to performances of a wide variety of Canadian works, the orchestra has premiered ten new Canadian compositions since 1994, of which three were commissioned by the orchestra and six others were written especially for it.
The SYO serves elementary, high school, and university students from a broad area around Saskatoon, including Rosthern, Prince Albert and Dalmeny. Repertoire consists of professional calibre music in a broad range of styles.
