Orchestras

The Orchestral Program at the Mount Royal Conservatory provides a quality ensemble experience for young string, wind, brass and percussion players from Calgary and surrounding area. A total of nine orchestras plus various specialized ensembles cater to players interested in classical music and/or jazz.

Participants range in age from 7 to the mid-20s. Acceptance is by audition. Following an audition, selected applicants are placed in an ensemble appropriate to their stage of development. In addition to weekly rehearsals with Mount Royal Conservatory conductors, players are given the opportunity to work with other local professionals and to take part in workshops with internationally recognized artists.

Auditions for these ensembles are held in late spring and early summer. The Conservatory office will schedule your audition and e-mail you with all pertinent information.

Online Orchestra Audition Request Form

For a complete list of audition requirements, click here.

Hear Our Orchestras!
For QuickTime movies of our Mount Royal Chamber Strings, Conservatory Strings and CYO
(Calgary Youth Orchestra) in performance during the March 2005 Academy Conductor Residency concert, click on the appropriate link below.

Chamber Strings

Conservatory Strings

Calgary Youth Orchestra

A current version of Apple QuickTime (Macintosh or Windows) is required to view these clips.

Please note: these are very large clips (5.7mB - 6.7mB) and may take some time to download, depending on your connection type.

String Orchestras
With six strings-based ensembles, the Mount Royal Conservatory string orchestra program is one of the most comprehensive in Canada.

Junior Orchestra Program

The Junior Orchestra Program offers five ensembles for string players 7-15 years of age. Auditions are for the Junior Orchestra Program, not one specific ensemble.  Students are placed in the ensemble that best suits their needs, at the discretion of the Junior Orchestra Program Coordinator and ensemble directors, and should be flexible regarding placement.

Preparatory Strings: This is the entry-level ensemble for strings. All first year orchestra members will start in this group. Members should be a minimum of 7 years old and have at least 2 years playing experience (minimum RCM Grade I level/end of Suzuki Book I level). No maximum age is set. The orchestra will concentrate on basic orchestral skills, listening, ensemble playing, etc. Members should be able to play in the keys of D, G, A, C. Register by August 31st for the full year.

Pre-Chamber Strings: A string orchestra in which members benefit from further ensemble skills in preparation for the Chamber or Junior Strings. Most players have one year of experience in the Preparatory Strings or its equivalent. Register by Aug. 31 for the full year.

Chamber Strings: A small orchestra for ages 8 - 12 who will benefit from detailed training. Members should have at least two year of orchestral training. Register by Aug. 31 for the full year.

Junior Strings: A large string ensemble investigating more advanced repertoire for orchestra members ages 10 - 15. Minimum RCM Grade IV level is preferable. Register by Aug. 31 for the full year.

Conservatory Strings

Conservatory Strings is an award-winning ensemble for advanced string players, ages 12 to 16. This orchestra performs music from the professional repertoire, and a high degree of commitment is expected. In addition to weekly rehearsals (Fridays, 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.), players participate in an annual workshop with a guest conductor. The Conservatory Strings have produced two CDs, and have been recorded by the CBC.

Calgary Youth Orchestra

Calgary Youth Orchestra (CYO) is the flagship orchestra of the Mount Royal Orchestral Program and is recognized as one of Canada's leading youth orchestras. It provides solid training in orchestral playing, with workshops with some of the best local, national and international coaches, conductors and visiting orchestras being a regular feature of the program. Overseas tours have been undertaken (usually every second year) since 1970. Entrance into this orchestra is by competitive audition and is open to students aged 14 to 24.

The CYO is supported by the Calgary Youth Orchestra Society, an independent non-profit organization. All CYO student members and their parents or guardians automatically become members of the Society.