VSO Day of Music: 12 Hours of Music with 100 Free Concerts, 13 Stages, 1 Day of Music
Vancouverites of all ages can celebrate the joy of music with 12 hours of free concerts presented by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and local musicians. Information and schedules at DayofMusic.ca
Saturday, June 10 will be the biggest day of the year at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) and the VSO School of Music (VSO SoM): Day of Music returns with over 100 free concerts, of various music genres, in venues across Vancouver.
Now in its fourth consecutive year, counting virtual editions during the pandemic, the VSO’s annual Day of Music is a smorgasbord of music making. The day’s purpose is to bring music to people across the province of BC, in a way that is unique, celebratory, and most of all, free! It embraces the joy that music brings and its power to create meaningful connections with others, while showcasing the extraordinary range of musical talent and artistry in our community.
“At the VSO and VSO School of Music, we love breaking down barriers and helping new audiences discover orchestral music, along with music of all genres! This is the perfect opportunity to sample everything that the Vancouver music scene has to offer including our phenomenal orchestra, plus music from diverse genres and musical traditions!” says Angela Elster, President & CEO of the VSO and VSO SoM.
Audiences can enjoy performances between 10am and 10pm at 13 stages across the Lower Mainland, including the Orpheum, Pyatt Hall at the VSO SoM, and the Annex, as well as pop-up venues at YVR, Bill Curtis Square in Yaletown, the Vancouver Convention Centre, and the Deloitte and TELUS Garden office buildings on West Georgia Street.
The day will culminate with the full Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of VSO Music Director Otto Tausk, playing a free 8pm concert at the Orpheum. This special free concert has been curated to appeal to a broad variety of musical palettes. To honour the VSO’s ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, the concert will include selections from Ancestral Voices, composed by the late VSO Music Director Emeritus Bramwell Tovey, and sung by special guest mezzo-soprano Marion Newman. The concert will also feature some of the most beloved orchestral repertoire around, with music by Mozart, Brahms, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Dvořák, and even an intergalactic Imperial March or two by John Williams.
For those outside of the Lower Mainland, or wanting a further immersive experience, over 20 performances will be available on-demand at DayofMusic.ca, including a special live broadcast of the VSO’s 8pm concert.
Families with young children are welcome to experience a free introduction to music at a VSO SoM Mini Music Maker class, offered both indoors at the VSO School of Music (843 Seymour Street) and outdoors in Yaletown at Bill Curtis Square (1198 Mainland St). We welcome music lovers of all ages at all Day of Music concerts, with a specific family-friendly focus at the VSO School of Music and the Bill Curtis Square stages.
Other highlights including Amir Eslami playing traditional Persian Flute with Mridangam drum (4:15pm, Willms Salon at the VSO SoM), jazz vocalist Will Clements (2pm, Annex), a special 100th anniversary celebration by the Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festivals (3:15pm, Orpheum), Michael Dirk and the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ (4:45pm, Orpheum), and the high-octane funk band Cookin’ with Brass (4:45pm, Bill Curtis Square). Full concert details and schedules can be found at DayofMusic.ca.
Day of Music is made possible through the generous financial assistance of its Presenting Sponsor BMO, as well as the VSO’s Community Engagement Partners Newmont North America and TELUS, and with support from the Jane McLennan Fund for Free and Accessible Music. The VSO also wishes to give special thanks to the Province of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver, and its partners at Vancouver Civic Theatres.
About the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
www.VancouverSymphony.ca
Founded in 1919, the Grammy and Juno-award winning Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is the third largest orchestra in Canada, the largest arts organization in Western Canada, and one of the few orchestras in the world to have its own music school.
Led by Music Director Otto Tausk since 2018, the VSO performs more than 150 concerts each year, throughout Vancouver and the province of British Columbia, reaching over 270,000 people annually. On tour the VSO has performed in the United States, China, Korea and across Canada.
The orchestra presents passionate, high-quality performances of classical, popular and culturally diverse music, creating meaningful engagement with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
Recent guest artists include Daniil Trifonov, Dawn Upshaw, James Ehnes, Adrianne Pieczonka, Gidon Kremer, Renée Fleming, Yefim Bronfman, Itzhak Perlman, Bernadette Peters, Tan Dun, and more.
