Ottawa Youth Orchestra 1960 - 1980
(Based on the historical summary prepared March 1980.)
The Ottawa Youth Orchestra was founded in 1960 for the purpose of bringing together talented young musicians of the Ottawa area for the purpose of gaining experience in ensemble and orchestral playing through weekly rehearsals and performances before live audiences. Since that time the orchestra was active continuously, usually presenting four public concerts each season. Each year auditions were held in September and rehearsals began immediately. The Orchestra operated as a night school class under the Continuing Education Division of the Ottawa Board of Education and a nominal fee was charged. The Membership was limited to those from 12 to 24 years of age. The demand was such that in 1971 an Associate Youth Orchestra was founded under the direction of J.K. Lussenburg with rehearsals being held at Canterbury High School. In 1980, the Associate Ottawa Youth Orchestra was conducted by Dwight Rudisuela.
Over the years, the Ottawa Youth Orchestra developed under the following conductors and concertmasters:
| Years | Conductors | Concertmasters |
|---|---|---|
| 1960-61 | J.K. Lussenburg | Marguerite Forget |
| 1961-6 | J.K. Lussenburg | Peggy Ryan |
| 1962-63 | Dr. Frederick Karam | Peggy Ryan |
| 1963-64 | Dr. Frederick Karam | Margaret Metcalfe |
| 1964-65 | James Hargreaves | Benson Benevoy |
| 1965-66 | Dirk Keetbaas, Sr. | Joan Barrett |
| 1966-67 | Dirk Keetbaas, Sr. | Joan Barret |
| 1967-68 | James Coles | Joan Barrett |
| 1968-69 | James Coles | Elizabeth Hubley |
| 1969-70 | James Coles | Elizabeth Hubley |
| 1970-71 | James Coles | Elizabeth Hubley |
| 1971-72 | James Coles | Margaret McKee |
| 1972-73 | James Coles | Margaret McKee |
| 1973-74 | James Coles | Margaret McKee |
| 1974-75 | James Coles | Todd Cadieux |
| 1975-76 | James Coles | Todd Cadieux |
| 1976-77 | James Coles | Todd Cadieux |
| 1977-78 | James Coles | Marie Savard |
| 1978-79 | James Coles | Marie Savard |
| 1979-80 | Brian Law | Marie Savard |
Board of Directors, 1960:
Captain H.E. Morris - Founder, Director of Administration, and Founding Chairman
J.K. Lussenburg - Director of Music and Conductor
Board of Directors, 1980:
Dr. M. Haycock - Chairman
Mrs. H.E. Morris
E.R. Barrett
Dr. J. Kruus
Brian Law - Conductor
Robert Henderson - Horn, Orchestra President
Marie Savard - Non-voting
Robert Shields - Non-voting
THE OTTAWA YOUTH ORCHESTRA
TROPHIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS
In 1967, a trophy in memory of the late Captain H.E. Morris was donated to the Ottawa Music Festival and in 1970, the Ottawa Youth Orchestra established a scholarship of $100.00 to be awarded through the Ottawa Music Festival, at the discretion of the adjudicators, to the competitor showing the most promise in a solo class for orchestral or band instruments.
Winners over the years have been:
| Year | Capt. H.E Morris Trophy | OYO Scholarship | Other Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Judy Tant - Flute | ||
| 1968 | Pamela Smith - French horn | Joan Barrett - concertmaster - Ottawa Lions Club Award | |
| 1969 | John Tickner - Trumpet | ||
| 1970 | Douglas Walker - Flute | ||
| 1971 | Elizabeth Hubley - Violin | Michael Kun - Violin | Elizabeth Hubley - concertmaster - Business and Professional Women’s Club of Ottawa Scholarship |
| 1972 | Pamela Smith - French horn | Pamela Smith - French horn | |
| 1973 | Michael Kun - Violin | Michael Kun - Violin | |
| 1974 | Mary-Ann Morris - Flute | Mary-Ann Morris - Flute | Mary-Ann Morris - Oboe - Ottawa Music Club Senior Scholarship |
| 1975 | Geoffrey Pinhey - Oboe | David Evenchick - Cello | Liliane Depocas - Flute - Senator M.M. Paterson Sr. |
| 1976 | Bernard Bisha - Cello | Douglas Brierly - Violin | Jane Shellnutt - Violin - Ottawa Citizen Sr. Scholarship |
| 1977 | Susan Miller - Cello | Andrew Lokan - Clarinet | |
| 1978 | Robert Venables - Trumpet | Susan Miller - Cello | |
| 1979 | Jeremy McCoy - Contrabass | Jeremy McCoy - Contrabass | David Fay - Contrabass - Ottawa Music Club Sr. Scholarship |
| 1980 | Jeremy McCoy - Contrabass | Jeremy McCoy - Contrabass |
The list of musicians who now play in professional symphony orchestras and other smaller groups as well as those who have gone into the teaching profession, and who initially gained experience with the Ottawa Youth Orchestra, would be a very long one. Former members now play in many orchestras in North America and Europe.
THE OTTAWA YOUTH ORCHESTRA
HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS 1961-1980
• 1961, May 17 - First public concert of the Ottawa Youth Orchestra in Nepean High School Auditorium, Ottawa. J.K. Lussenburg conducting.
• 1962, Mar 3, - Concert in Morrisburg Civic Auditorium. Johannes Lussenburg conducting.
• 1962, Nov 25 - Concert with the Royal Military College Glee Club of Kingston, Ontario, in Glebe Collegiate Auditorium, Ottawa.
OYO conductor - Dr. F. Karam; concertmaster Peggy Ryan
RMC conductor - Dr. D.G.M. Diaper
Contralto soloist - Mona Harrison
• 1963, Jan 27 - Concert with the Royal Military College Glee Club in Queen Elizabeth College Auditorium, Kingston, Ontario with Mona Harrison, contralto soloist, in Brahms “Alto Rhapsody”
OYO conductor - Dr. F. Karam; concertmaster Peggy Ryan
RMC conductor - Dr. D.G.M. Diaper
OYO performed other items on the first half of the program.
• 1967, Mar 28 - Apr 1 - Centennial Tour sponsored by The Centennial Commission and The Iron Ore Co. of Canada Limited (Schefferville, Que., Labrador City and Sept Iles, Que.).
• 1968, Nov 16 - Joint concert OYO and the Ottawa Youth Wind Ensemble.
OYO conductor - James Coles; concertmaster - Elizabeth Hubley
OYWE conductor - James Hargreaves
• 1969, Feb 8 - Joint concert OYO and the Ottawa Youth Wind Ensemble in Brookfield High School Auditorium in aid of the Children’s Hospital Building Fund.
• 1969, Mar - Concert with the Concordia Male Chorus of Ottawa.
OYO conductor - James Coles; violin soloist - Joan Barrett
Concordia conductor - Robert Van Dine
Soloist - Mona Harrison, contralto, in J. Brahms “Alto Rhapsody”, in Glebe Collegiate Auditorium, Ottawa
Repeated in Deep River Community Centre Auditorium.
• 1970, Dec 26-31 - Newfoundland Tour.
Concerts in Corner Brook, Gander and St. John’s, Nfld.
Conductor - James Coles; concertmaster - Elizabeth Hubley
• 1971, May 11 - The Ottawa Civic Symphony and OYO combined to perform Morton Gould’s “Venice” in the Opera of the National Arts Centre.
• 1973, Mar 10 - Concert with the Deep River Choral Group, in High School of Commerce Auditorium, Ottawa, performed “Dona Nobis Pacem” by Vaughan Williams.
Soloists - Mary Lou Fallis, soprano (Toronto)
- Stuart MacKinnon - baritone (Ottawa)
OYO conductor - James Coles; concertmaster - Margaret McKee
Choral Conductor - Janet MacDonald
• 1973, Mar 31 - Repeated the above concert in MacKenzie High School Auditorium, Deep River, Ontario.
• 1973, Aug 3 - OYO performed in the Opera of the National Arts Centre as part of the “Young August” program.
Conductor - James Coles; concertmaster - Margaret McKee
Soloist - Peter Van Gijn (French horn)
• 1973, Sep - appeared on CJOH television for the Ottawa-Carleton United Way Campaign.
• 1978, Jan 25 - Feb 4 - OYO was 1 of 7 youth orchestras at the Canadian Festival of Youth Orchestras at the Banff Centre, School of Fine Arts, Banff, Alta. Performed a concert on Jan 31st, with Lawrence Leonard guest conductor.
• 1980, Feb 7 - Workshop with Pinchas Zukerman at Ottawa University.