About KAWARTHA YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Founded in 2002, The Kawartha Youth Orchestra is in its second decade of providing outstanding musical learning and performance experiences for local children and youth. From its start as a single ensemble orchestra-training program, the KYO has grown to become the parent organization of an Orchestras program including an auditioned orchestra, the KYO, a non-auditioned orchestra, the Junior KYO, and an ensemble for beginning instrumentalists, the JKYO Farm Team as well as UPBEAT, a social impact afterschool music program for children 6-12 years old facing socio-economic barriers.

Music is for everyone. We strive to ensure that every child has access to music learning and performance opportunities regardless of their means. Bursaries make music possible for over 80% of our musicians; thank you for making their passion possible.

The KYO VISION

In the heart of the Kawarthas, our diverse KYO community challenges and inspires young people to embrace music learning and performance, be confident, and shape a better world.

The KYO MISSION

We inspire our musicians and our instructors to develop and cultivate a love for music and to share their music and passion with the community.

CORE 4 GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Be Inclusive

We believe in the universality of music, in its ability to cut across all social circumstances, cultures, and languages, to translate all emotions, to be made by all and enjoyed by all. Music fosters friendships and transcends barriers. Through the dedicated initiative of volunteers and staff, and the generosity of patrons and sponsors, we strive to ensure every local aspiring young musician has access to an instrument, sheet music, and instruction.

Be Open

We encourage musicians to be open to new challenges, open to being vulnerable, and open to failing forward. We want to build resilience and inspire pride in our musicians, and we ground our teaching and coaching practices, and performance opportunities in the power of believing that each person can improve.

Be Collaborative

We believe in the importance of cooperative learning structures and activities that get our musicians to play and perform together. Whether through dialogue, team building, rehearsals, or authentic performance projects like public and outreach concerts, our musicians learn how to listen deeply and respectfully, appreciate diversity, and communicate using their genuine voices and the music within them. Orchestra musicians and UPBEAT participants take advantage of opportunities to engage and collaborate with local community partners and world-class performers. Our passion for multiple genres of music is a joy we share with our broader community.

Be Passionate

We want our members to be life-long musicians, to have the instrumental and music appreciation skills to be enthusiastic, imaginative, engaged Arts supporters and citizens of the world. We believe this starts with passion. Passion for the music that expresses the deep meaning of being human. Passion for actions that build toward personal and community excellence. Passion for the well-being of others is behaviour that is reinforced in the KYO. Our programs teach musicians what it means to be more mindful and help cultivate a practice of being present. In lessons, sectionals, rehearsal, and through special performance events, KYO musicians learn about the importance of building a more sustainable world.

2 PROGRAM STREAMS

ORCHESTRAS VISION

Providing outstanding orchestral music experiences for local children and youth.

ORCHESTRAS MISSION

To ensure the experience of performing orchestral music is accessible for all young musicians in the City of Peterborough and surrounding area, providing them with the opportunity to learn symphonic music and perform in an orchestral ensemble, and to nurture and celebrate the self-actualization of each musician.

UPBEAT VISION

Empowering children through music.

UPBEAT MISSION

To provide a fully-subsidized after-school music program for Peterborough-area children who face life challenges.