A streamed concert will debut “Apollo,” a new work composed by Surrey-born Jordan Nobles and recorded by a collective of British Columbia youth orchestras.
Surrey Youth Orchestra members are involved, along with Coquitlam Youth Orchestra, Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra, Langley Community Music School Orchestra, Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra and Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra.
The piece was commissioned and composed specifically for the 350 participating young musicians to prepare and perform collectively in a digital format, starting at noon Friday, May 7.
The “Apollo Initiative” event is free to watch, with donations encouraged to the B.C. division of the Canadian Mental Health Association in support of youth mental health.
Video sample of the ‘Apollo Initiative,’ uniting 350 young B.C. musicians in a streamed concert for mental health, featuring @SYOrchestra92 and other groups May 7. #SurreyBC #music
DETAILS: https://t.co/1nUyF56raf pic.twitter.com/ICDGQvUjmG— Tom Zillich (@TomZillich) April 30, 2021
Project goals include supporting “the mental wellness of our youth, many of whom look to their participation in music as an important tool in their mental wellness strategy,” according to a post on canadahelps.org, and “to provide a musical goal and to keep the students motivated in this unusual season.”
Timed with Youth Mental Health Day, the performance will stream on Facebook and YouTube channels.
• RELATED STORY: Juno-winning work by Surrey-born composer recorded in huge tank now filled with water.
Each orchestra oversaw the recording of their parts, which Nobles then stitched together to create one cohesive performance.
“I am honored to be a part of a project that gives value and meaning to the work BC Youth Orchestras are continuing to do during the pandemic,” Nobles said. “The entire creation of ‘Apollo’ has been an exciting process, and I sincerely hope that the premiere raises both money and awareness of a real challenge facing young British Columbians today.”
Nobles, who lives in Deep Cove, has won several awards for his work, including a JUNO for Classical Composition of the Year in 2017.
“The pandemic has testified humanity and uncovered the real world,” said Richard Ding, a French horn player with Surrey Youth Orchestra. “The Apollo Initiative enabled me, as a young musician, to positively impact the world through assisting others, including collaboratively supporting the most vulnerable group. ‘Apollo’ music has facilitated me in remaining calm and healthy during one of the most challenging times in history.”
SYO violinist Jessica Tang said it’s incredible how so many orchestras united to create a result “beyond imagination. This initiative is not only artistically inventive, but inspired young musicians like myself to form bonds that allow us to grow with and learn from one another while supporting youth mental health.”
Meantime, everyone is invited to watch Surrey Youth Orchestra’s 2021 Spring Concert on Saturday, May 8, starting at 7:30 p.m. This virtual event features previously recorded performances and produced by Prelude Strings, Intermezzo Strings, Symphonic Strings and Senior orchestra. Register to for the watch party with a Zoom login code at https://form.jotform.com/Surrey_Youth/SYOSpringConcert.
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.comLike us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram and follow Tom on Twitter
