GCVI Orchestra students participate in special workshop
October 23, 2023
GUELPH, ON – On Friday, October 20, 2023, Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute Orchestra students participated in a special workshop with guest conductor, Adam Johnson.
Based out of Montreal, Johnson serves as the director of Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, and the Baton Rouge Symphony. He was also recently appointed as the new director of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra (GSO) and has been hard at work this month rehearsing with the GSO in preparation for their first concert of the season, which took place over the weekend.
Johnson, who is considered one of the top young conductors in North America, was kind enough to take time out of his schedule to visit with young aspiring Orchestra students at GCVI while in town and led them in a workshop at the school.
According to GCVI teacher Dan Austin, “As part of their youth outreach, Adam has agreed to visit and work with the GCVI Orchestra each time he is in Guelph for rehearsals with the Guelph Symphony Orchestra. On Friday afternoon Adam stopped by GCVI to run our weekly Orchestra practice. He worked with the students on two pieces; Stravinsky’s “The Firebird” and “American Landscape” by Soon Hee Newbold. It was such a treat for the students to work with a professional director with such an extensive background in Orchestral music. His knowledge of Orchestral pedagogy and specifically string technique was so appreciated by our students. By the end of the rehearsal the students were playing better than ever, and we can’t wait to work with Adam again in the spring when he is back in town.”
To learn more about the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, click here.
To see a video of the GCVI Orchestra, click here.
