News
March 18, 2026 : MONCTON, N.B.: New Brunswick’s top young orchestral musicians will aim for a hat trick when the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra celebrates its concert season finale of the ‘Vive le Canada’ tour, including ‘The Hockey Sweater’ as part of their repertoire.
The March 28 concert will be held at Tidal Church in Moncton, with the performance starting at 2 p.m. Taylor Ford, Moncton Kia and Trinity Collision Centre is sponsoring the 61st annual concert series.
Maestro Tony Delgado, NBYO concert director, said the provincial tour has been a great success, with the musicians rising to the challenge of a demanding musical repertoire.
“Our young musicians have responded well and with enthusiasm. They have had great performances and are getting to a great level of musicality,” Delgado said. “The concert finale will add different music and different styles, from a famous TV song: ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ to Acadian Reels, a Conga and a great Horn Concerto. It will be music for all tastes!”
Kenn Mainville, NBYO president and CEO, said the orchestra had a very strong response from audiences across the province for the‘Vive le Canada’ tour.
“People are responding to the range of the repertoire, and to the way it highlights the discipline, growth, and musical maturity of these young performers,” Mainville said. “ ‘The Hockey Sweater’ has really connected with audiences. It brings humour, nostalgia, and a shared Canadian experience into the concert hall, and people respond to that.”
The orchestra debuted their performance of ‘The Hockey Sweater’ in Saint John in January, followed by another enthusiastic concert in Fredericton last month. The Canadian piece, composed by Abigail Richardson-Schulte, is based on the famous short story by Canadian author Roch Carrier. The story, founded on 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.
Marty Kingston, the official broadcaster for Moncton's Wildcats QJMHL team, will be the narrator during the Moncton concert.
“He will be adding all of his experience within the hockey world, making it even more fun for all the audiences,” 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.
Two former NBYO musicians will also be showcased at the concert. Avery Hubert is performing as the winner of the brass division of The National Music Festival after winning an impressive bursary to study at the Glenn Gould Conservatory in Toronto. Samantha Robichaud has built an impressive international career on top of an excellent work as a teacher, keeping alive the Acadian fiddling tradition.
Moncton-area audiences will enjoy the atmosphere at Tidal Church, a favourite NBYO concert venue.
“Tidal Church is a great space for a large NBYO audience. First-time attendees can expect outstanding young musicians, a program with real variety, and a strong connection between the orchestra and the audience,” Mainville said.
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.
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, Saint John, and Fredericton.
Tickets are available at nbyotickets.com
