A streamed concert will debut a new work composed by Surrey-born and recorded by a collective of British Columbia youth orchestras.

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 鈥淎pollo Initiative鈥� 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 鈥楢pollo Initiative,鈥� uniting 350 young B.C. musicians in a streamed concert for mental health, featuring and other groups May 7.
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鈥� Tom Zillich (@TomZillich)

Project goals include supporting 鈥渢he mental wellness of our youth, many of whom look to their participation in music as an important tool in their mental wellness strategy,鈥� according to , and 鈥渢o provide a musical goal and to keep the students motivated in this unusual season.鈥�

Timed with Youth Mental Health Day, the performance will stream on and channels.

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Each orchestra oversaw the recording of their parts, which Nobles then stitched together to create one cohesive performance.

鈥淚 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,鈥� Nobles said. 鈥淭he entire creation of 鈥楢pollo鈥� 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.鈥�

Nobles, who lives in Deep Cove, has won several awards for his work, including a JUNO for Classical Composition of the Year in 2017.

鈥淭he pandemic has testified humanity and uncovered the real world,鈥� said Richard Ding, a French horn player with Surrey Youth Orchestra. 鈥淭he Apollo Initiative enabled me, as a young musician, to positively impact the world through assisting others, including collaboratively supporting the most vulnerable group. 鈥楢pollo鈥� music has facilitated me in remaining calm and healthy during one of the most challenging times in history.鈥�

SYO violinist Jessica Tang said it鈥檚 incredible how so many orchestras united to create a result 鈥渂eyond 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.鈥�

Meantime, everyone is invited to watch Surrey Youth Orchestra鈥檚 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 .

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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