User:Lawrencepeddie/NYCO Symphony Orchestra

History
In 1975, the North York Concert Orchestra was started by Bill Ward, then business manager of the North York Symphony. Initially, it was created for players who had auditioned for the Symphony but who couldn’t or didn’t want to make the commitments required by membership in a large performing orchestra and for whom many wished to play mainly for pleasure. So, sponsored by the North York Symphony, a reading orchestra was formed.

It was open to anyone who wished to come and play the repertoire offered. Its first conductor was Deborah Coombe, who was also the assistant conductor of the North York Symphony. By 1976, the orchestra had grown to 60 musicians, many of whom were music students from Harbord Collegiate Institute. There were no restrictions on the number of instruments in each orchestral section.

The North York Concert Orchestra started giving concerts for interested family and friends at Etienne Brule Secondary School, where the Orchestra had rehearsed. These concerts were supported by the Symphony women, from the North York Symphony, who provided drinks and cookies at intermission. Bill Ward began sending the Orchestra out to senior’s residences and malls, when requests came for the Symphony but the venue could not support the price of a full symphony orchestra. The liaison with the Symphony meant that many times when extra players, tympani or other percussion instruments were needed, they would come from the Symphony’s roster. It also worked in reverse. Occasionally, musicians would play with the Orchestra while awaiting an opening in the Symphony. The North York Concert Orchestra also had access to the Symphony’s large music library.

With the popularity of the Orchestra increasing, the group changed its name to the North York Repertory Orchestra, and continued its policy of being an orchestra open to all players who wished to play and make music – no auditions required.

In 1980 Charles Lapointe, the new assistant conductor of the North York Symphony, took over the Repertory Orchestra, changing its name back to the North York Concert Orchestra. In the fall of 1988, with a change in conductor and management, the North York Symphony ceased its sponsorship of the Concert Orchestra. The North York Concert Orchestra then formed its own organization and Board of Directors and continued until May 1989 with Charles Lapointe, as conductor.

Through the 90’s, the Orchestra had a series of conductors including Steve Riches, Gnady Gefter and Janez Govednik, under whom the Orchestra continued to develop and improve. Currently, the Orchestra in under the leadership of David Bowser.

After the amalgamation of North York into the City of Toronto, in 1998, the North York Concert Orchestra once again underwent a name change. Using the acronym NYCO, the organization rebranded itself the NYCO Symphony Orchestra.

As always, the orchestra remains open to players without auditions and continues to play community concerts as well as having a 3 concert subscription series.