MRC Orchestras

The Conservatory, Mount Royal College Junior Orchestra Program has a graduated series of six string-based ensembles for young people:

Mount Royal Preparatory Strings. Ben Neumann - Conductor. Provides entry level string players with their first enseble experience. Participants must be at least 7 years old with at least 2 years of instruction on their instrument.

Mount Royal Pre-Chamber Strings. Ben Neumann - Conductor. For string players between 8 and 11 years of age with at least one year of ensemble experience who have a strong command of their instrument. Young players will enhance their ensemble skills and perform more advanced repertoire.

Mount Royal Chamber Strings. Ben Neumann - Conductor. Designed for gifted and dedicated string students between the ages of 8 and 12. More detailed training and more difficult repertoire in a small ensemble setting.

Junior Strings. Kirill Kalmykov - Conductor. A large ensemble for string players aged 10 to 15. More advanced repertoire.

Intermediate Strings. Jeff Plotnick - Conductor. Designed to provide dedicated young string players between 11 and 18 with the enriching experience of large ensemble performance.

Conservatory Strings. Nick Pulos - Conductor. This award-winning orchestra for advanced string players, ages 10 to 16, performs music from the professional repertoire.Rehearsals are Fridays, 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Includes an annual workshop with a guest conductor. The Conservatory Strings have produced two CDs, and have been recorded by the CBC.

Also see:

• Calgary Youth Orchestra (full symphonic orchestra. The flagship orchestra of the MRC Orchestral Program.)
• Early Childhood String Ensembles (enrichment program for beginning violin and cello students ages 5 to 9)
• Junior Brass Ensemble (10 to 15 years of age with at least one year of playing experience)
• Trombone Choir (High school, post-secondary students and adult players)
• Conservatory Regional Band Program
• Jazz Studies Big Band
• Jazz Studies Combos

Rehearsals are at Mount Royal College.

Tuition fees: $

Conductors: Kirill Kalmaykov, Ben Neumann, Jeff Plotnick, Nick Pulos

Auditions: Auditions are held in late spring and are scheduled from April 15 to May 30 each year.

Contact Information:

Sheldon Nadler, Co-ordinator, Orchestral Programs
Ben Neumann, Co-ordinator, Junior Orchestra Program
Mount Royal College Conservatory
4825 Richard Road S.W.
Calgary, AB T3E 6K6
Phone: (403) 240-
Fax: (403) 240-6594
e-mail:
Web: http://www.mtroyal.ab.ca/conservatory/orchestral.html
(on-line information request form available)

Updated August 10, 2000