Niagara Youth Orchestra, St. Catharines, ON

Founded by Paul van Dongen, the Niagara Youth Orchestra is the premiere training ground for young orchestral musicians under 25 years old in the Niagara region. Led by professional coaches and conductors who are affiliated with orchestras across the province, the junior and senior members of the Niagara Youth Orchestra receive extensive music education and performance experiences through regular concert seasons and special events. The Junior Niagara Youth Orchestra (JNYO) provides young musicians with the opportunity to develop their skills by working with coaches and the conductor, exposing them to challenging music in both their individual ensemble groups and as an orchestra as well as providing them with performance experience. String players in this group ten to be around 9 - 13 years old, while winds, brass and percussionists tend to be around 11 - 14 years old., the junior and senior members of the Niagara Youth Orchestra receive extensive music education and performance experience.