The Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra conducted by Yariv Aloni, the group鈥檚 musical director, is including the Comox Valley in its special 25th anniversary Silver Anniversary Tour.
The Comox Valley Youth Music Centre (CYMC) invites music lovers of all ages to Mark Isfeld Secondary school at 2:30 p.m. on April 25 for a sublime musical Easter treat.
Aloni has a special link with CYMC as he was artistic director for the summer music camp for 10 years and is enthusiastic about bringing his group of talented young musicians to perform here.
Aloni has conducted orchestras across Western Canada and has received praise for his impassioned and inspiring interpretations of major orchestral and choral repertoire.
Born on a kibbutz in Israel, Yariv Aloni began violin lessons at age eight. He is a graduate of the Jerusalem Music Centre where he studied with Ilona Feher, Isaac Stern, members of the Amadeus Quartet and other internationally recognized musicians such as the late Leonard Bernstein.
His conducting studies were under the mentorship of J谩nos S谩ndor; GVYO鈥檚 tour is 鈥渄edicated to the memory of Janos Sandor in gratitude for 15 years of musical mentorship.鈥�
Aloni lives in Victoria where, along with performing, teaching and leading the GVYO, he holds the posts of music director of the Galiano Ensemble of Victoria and the Victoria Chamber Orchestra.
Season after season for more than 20 years, GVYO has been known for its outstanding orchestral music. They present a truly impressive range of repertoire to Victoria鈥檚 audiences, sharing magnificent music with schoolchildren at home and as far afield as Haida Gwaii (2001) and the Yukon Territory (2006).
GVYO has orchestrated the finale of its Silver Season of Service to showcase the talents of 50 exuberant young musicians in Bamfield, Port Alberni, Courtenay and Qualicum Beach, communities where a live symphony orchestra is, to say the least, a rarity. In each place the GVYO will perform a community benefit concert and also a concert for schoolchildren.
The tour rewards are mutual. The host community benefits from all concert proceeds and wonderful music, while GVYO players experience firsthand the warmth of citizens living in Vancouver Island communities and the wild beauty of its forests, lakes and West Coast beaches.
CYMC board member Diane Maxted is organizing billeting for orchestra members.
She says, 鈥淲e would like to appeal to local families, especially those whose children study music, empty-nesters, perhaps, and/or music lovers in general to get involved as hosts. Local families who billet pairs of musicians are welcome to join in the fun of a celebration dinner afterwards.
鈥淭he orchestra will actually arrive the night before, so can even spend time with their hosts seeing a bit of the Valley before the show. It is a great opportunity to host some talented young people, make them welcome, and enjoy a fabulous performance.鈥�
More information for those interested in hosting can be obtained by calling Maxted at 250-339-7512.
Tickets for the performance are available at Laughing Oyster bookstore in Courtenay and Blue Heron Books and Videos 鈥檔鈥� More in Comox, and are priced at $15 for adults and $10 for students.
鈥� Comox Valley Youth Music Centre
