Youth Symphony of the Okanagan to Host Penticton Meeting

Youth Symphony of the Okanagan under the direction of Imant Raminsh at their February 2012 concert.  photo: Judi Folk

The Youth Symphony of the Okanagan (YSO) under the direction of Imant Raminsh and Dennis Colpitts, concluded its 23rd season with a concert and reception at the Cleland Theatre in Penticton on Sunday February 26th.  This year there were five original compositions for orchestra directed by young composers of the YSO.  Raminsh believes the YSO is unique among youth symphonies of Canada in affording this opportunity to its young musicians.   As a world-renowned composer,  Raminsh believes in affording each musician the complete music-making experience, and the opportunity to compose has been his pet project since he founded the YSO in 1989.

In 2011-12 the YSO season ran from October to February.  Saturday rehearsals were held in Vernon or Kelowna, and young musicians came from as far away as Nakusp, Coldstream, and Rock Creek to practice together.  However, big changes are afoot for 2012-13, as Imant Raminsh hands the baton to Rosemary Thomson, director of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra (OSO), and co-director Dennis Colpitts.

The OSO is hosting a series of information sessions throughout the Okanagan Valley with music teachers, prospective new musicians and their parents.  The Penticton meeting will be held on Tuesday April 3 from 7:00-8:30pm at Penticton Secondary School.

For more information on the Youth Symphony of the Okangan, visit their website at http://www.youthsymphonyokanagan.com/