NYB 2015

May 3-10 Toronto, Ontario

Robert Taylor- Conductor

Yamaha Guest Soloist TBA

If you have any questions, please contact NYB Manager

Barbara Stetter at 902-849-5846

 67 Catherine Street, Glace Bay, Nova Scotia  B1A 2K1 

The National Youth Band of Canada (NYB) is the most comprehensive music education youth project offered by the Canadian Band Association. In 1978, 1991, and annually since 1994, the National Youth Band of Canada has provided an opportunity for the country's outstanding 16-22 year old musicians to gather for an enriching and inspiring musical and cultural experience. It is an outstanding opportunity to perform under the leadership of a renowned Canadian conductor and a Yamaha Canada Music Ltd. featured soloist. The NYB experience also provides each of these young musicians the chance to network with some of the finest instrumentalists from across Canada. The NYB is the premiere youth wind ensemble in Canada.

Every year the band travels to a different Canadian province for one week of intense rehearsals and performances. This past May, the National Youth Band of Canada was held in Edmonton, Alberta at the University of Alberta. The 2014 Yamaha guest artist was Alastair Kay, Head of the Brass Department at Humber college.

From May 3-10, 2015, the National Youth Band will be in Toronto. As of now, we will be based at Humber College for the week. This would include accommodations and rehearsal facilities.

The band meets together for the first time on Sunday, May 3 and has an evening rehearsal. three more days of intensive rehearsal. On Thursday and Friday, the group will be giving concerts to local area schools during the day and performing in the evening concert(s) at the Toronto Festival of Music.

Martin Boundy, Dr. Dennis Prime, Bramwell Tovey, Andr Jutras, James Hargreaves, Stphane LaForest, Bobby Herriot, Dr. Gerald King, Dr. Glenn Price, Dr. Gillian MacKay, Dr. Tania Miller, Alain Cazes, Dr. Denise Grant, Marvin Eckroth, Dr. Fraser Linklater, Dr. Karem Simon, Colin Clarke, Dr. Shelley Jagow, Dr. Wayne Jeffrey, Dr. Cynthia Johnson Turner, Dr. Colleen Richardson, Jonathan Dagenais, and are all accomplished Canadian musicians and conductors who have brought outstanding artistry and musicianship to the NYB podium. 

The CBA was formed in 1934 to promote and develop the musical, educational and cultural values of band music in Canada.

Conductor Robert Taylor is Director of Bands at the University of British Columbia, where he conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, teaches instrumental conducting, and heads the Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion division. Prior to his appointment at UBC, Dr. Taylor served as Director of Bands at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA, and Chair of the Performing Arts Department at Eureka High School in northern California. Under his direction, the Eureka High Jazz Ensemble and Symphonic Band earned recognition for excellence by Downbeat Magazine, the Selmer Corporation, and Grammy Signature Schools, placing Eureka High among the finest school music programs in North America.

Dr. Taylor maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor and clinician. Past engagements include performances with the Vancouver Brass Project, Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and Chicago-based contemporary music group, the Maverick Ensemble, in addition to collaborations with a wide range of international artists—from Allen Vizzutti, Gail Williams, and Ingrid Jensen, to Manhattan Transfer and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. As a passionate advocate of music in the schools, Dr. Taylor is in high demand as a rehearsal clinician and festival adjudicator and has made frequent appearances with young musicians, serving as principal conductor of the Puget Sound Youth Wind Ensemble and guest conductor of numerous honour groups.

Dr. Taylor received the Master of Music and Doctor of Music degrees in conducting from Northwestern University and the Bachelor of Arts degree in Trumpet and Music Education from Humboldt State University. His research has been published in GIA’s Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series and featured in presentations at several regional and national music conferences. He is a Jacob K. Javits Fellow, executive board member of the British Columbia Music Educators Association, and a member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Kappa Lambda National Honor Societies, College Band Directors National Association, World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, and National Association for Music Education.