News
NBYO concert season celebrates Canadian identity with ‘Vive le Canada’ tour
Feb. 2, 2026 : FREDERICTON, N.B. : The New Brunswick Youth Orchestra will celebrate frosty toes, stickhandling, and dreams of the Big Leagues when the province’s top young musicians perform their 61 st annual concert tour titled ‘Vive le Canada’ including ‘The Hockey Sweater’ as part of their repertoire. The Feb. 15 concert begins at 2 p.m. at the Tom Morrison Theatre at Fredericton High School. Maple Leaf Homes is sponsoring the concert series.
The orchestra debuted their performance of ‘The Hockey Sweater’ in Saint John last month. The Canadian piece composed by Abigail Richardson-Schulte is based on the famous short story by Canadian author Roch Carrier. The story, based on a Carrier’s life as a young Montreal Canadiens fan, tells the heartwarming tale of being forced to don a hated Toronto Maple Leafs jersey to the dismay of his friends and hockey coach after the Eaton’s mail order company makes a mistake. ‘The Hockey Sweater’ is Carrier’s most famous work, and a line from the story appears on the back of the ‘Children at Play’ $5 bill, part of the Canadian Journey currency series first issued in 2002.
Kenn Mainville, NBYO president and CEO, said the January debut performance was a hit.
“The audience response was very strong from start to finish. ‘The Hockey Sweater’ stood out as a memorable and engaging part of the program, drawing people in with its humour and sense of shared Canadian experience,” Mainville said. “Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony clearly resonated with the audience and overshadowed everything else in the best possible way, earning a prolonged standing ovation. That balance is exactly what we aim for, pairing accessible Canadian storytelling with demanding symphonic repertoire that allows our musicians to perform at a very high level.”
Maestro Tony Delgado, NBYO conductor and music director, said the young musicians are tackling complex musical pieces and enjoying the experience.
“This is a group of very committed young musicians… Audiences in Fredericton can expect a different vision of a beautiful, funny and nostalgic Canadian story with other great pieces of music: a demanding and amazing symphony, a Frederictonian young conductor Sidney Murgatroid and a very engaging and unexpected piece of music performed by our winners of the soloist competition: Alexander Urbina (Bassoon) and Jasper Wang (Percussion),” Delgado said.
Joel Flores, a Fredericton-area musician, producer, entrepreneur and a Sistema NB - NBYO Parent, will narrate the performance.
Delgado said the orchestra started practicing for the concert early last summer. “‘The Hockey Sweater’ is a very challenging piece that was commissioned by the Toronto Symphony, The National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. It was planned to be performed by professional orchestras,” Delgado said.
Mainville said he hopes audience members will get into the spirit and don their own favourite team jerseys.
“We’re encouraging fans to wear their favourite hockey sweaters, and we suppose that includes Maple Leafs jerseys, too,” he said.
Mainville said Fredericton audiences have consistently supported the NBYO, and they can expect a performance that is confident, disciplined, and deeply engaging.
“It’s a concert designed to be enjoyed by seasoned concertgoers and first-time listeners alike,” he said. “For a program like Vive le Canada, which mixes Canadian storytelling with major symphonic repertoire, the Tom Morrison Theatre helps create a real shared experience in the room. The audience feels close to the performance, and the musicians feel that support. That kind of atmosphere brings out confident playing and a strong level of focus.”
The NBYO is the pinnacle of musical achievement for young orchestral musicians in New Brunswick, and most of its players are alumni of Sistema NB, the intensive after-school music program created to break down barriers to participation. This season, over 95 per cent of NBYO members began their musical journey in Sistema NB, a powerful testament to the program’s reach, quality, and success.
'Vive le Canada’ is more than a concert theme, it’s a celebration of our national identity through music. Our musicians are not just youth ambassadors for New Brunswick; they represent the very best of Canada’s future. When they take the stage, they show the country what’s possible when young people are given the chance to thrive,” Mainville said.
The ‘Vive le Canada’ tour completed successful performances in Bathurst, Caraquet and Saint John, will take the stage in Fredericton on Feb. 15 and end their season in Moncton with a concert on March 28. “If you’ve never attended an NBYO performance before, prepare to be amazed. You’ll witness world-class music-making, the energy of youth, and a powerful connection between the orchestra and its audience. It’s an experience that uplifts, inspires, and often surprises first-time listeners,” Mainville said.
Tickets are available at nbyotickets.com
