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Orchestra extends invite to Syrian refugees to welcome them to the community
Sarah Petz -- Telegraph-Journal
Saint John • Late into Friday night, music floods the hallways of Saint John High School as the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra prepares for its only concert of the season in the city.
About 85 young musicians will be populating the school for the weekend, rehearsing round the clock ahead of Sunday’s concert.
Antonio Delgado, musical director and conductor for NBYO, said rehearsals before each concert are typically quite intense, as it’s difficult to co-ordinate practice times for the entire orchestra, considering members come from all over New Brunswick.
“But the kids are awesome. They do such a good job,”he said.
“They’re very much into it. Listening to what they play, that’s important because it’s music, but watching them play, they’re so engaged, so into it. They’ve become so passionate about what they do. It’s a complete show, not just for the sound, but for the visuals.”
There’s definitely a change in tone to these rehearsals with the concert only a matter of hours away, said Laura Brockbank, a viola player in her fifth year with the orchestra.
“When there’s a performance, there’s a new kind of air. Normally we practise the same day as the rehearsal, so the atmosphere kind of changes. You have your game face on and play as well as you can,”she said.
“In normal rehearsals, we joke around a bit more.”
Sunday’s concert will feature a blend of music from Star Wars, Tchaïkovsky’s Symphony No. 1 and Emmanuel Chabrier’s Espana.
At the request of the students, the orchestra has invited Syrian refugee families and their interpreters to attend the event as a way to welcome them to the community, Delgado said.
“I think it’s a nice way to welcome them and to show them the things that we’re doing here in the province. I think one of the most difficult things about immigration, as an immigrant myself, is the fact that it’s difficult to connect sometimes, especially in these cases when you haven’t mastered the language and there’s so many barriers,” Delgado said.
“I think the idea around this is, it’s a nice way to say welcome, and we’re happy that you’re here.”
Members of the orchestra have also been busking in cities throughout New Brunswick to raise funds to support Syrian refugees resettlement efforts. In total, they’ve raised close to $4,500.
The concert takes place at 2 p.m. in the Saint John High School Auditorium. Tickets are available at the door.
