Toronto Symphony will play at Glad Tidings Sept. 15

Sudbury classical music lovers will have a rare opportunity to hear the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) live in concert Tuesday, Sept. 15.

The symphony and their conductor Peter Oundjian are visiting the city as part of the TSO's outreach program.

The symphony will perform music by Beethoven and Mendelssohn at the Glad Tidings Auditorium. In addition, there will be the world premiere of music written by TSO composer advisor Gary Kulesha featuring principal trombone player Gordon Wolfe as soloist.

"It is a very nice, varied program...an eclectic program..." says Oundjian. He promises to do his part to eliminate the stuffiness people often associate with symphony orchestras.

"I'll be introducing pieces...it won't be a chat show but there will be some communication from the stage."

Oundjian, like Sudbury Symphony conductor Victor Sawa, is driven to make classical concerts assessable to new and young audiences.

"It is a commitment one has as an artist to try to reach as many people as possible, and I think it is fantastic that the Ontario Arts Council and the Ontario Trillium Foundation supports the idea" (of an outreach program), says Oundjian.

For the last four years, the TSO has participated in a five-day residency tour in Northern Ontario. Musicians visit elementary and secondary schools to provide in-school performances, workshops and master classes. This year, TSO will visit Sault Ste. Marie as well as Sudbury.

"It is just a shame in the world of music you have an orchestra like the TSO and the only way to hear it would be to come to Toronto. The idea is to be able to come to other communities to bring them what we do and our passions for music.

"The value of having an opportunity to hear live music in their school environment can never be underestimated. For people who don't have classic music in their homes, there maybe one moment they are exposed to it...and they are intrigued," Oundjian says.

Oundjian grew up in a musical family. Born in Toronto, and raised in England, he started playing violin when he was seven. He had a successful career as violin soloist and was the first violinist with the Tokyo Strong Quartet for 14 years. He remembers playing a concert in Sudbury in the mid-1980s with the National Orchestra of Canada.

After he suffered a repetitive stress injury, Oundjian stopped performing and set his sights on becoming a conductor. He has been with the TSO since 2004 and he has extended his contract until 2012.

Tickets for the Sept. 15 public concert are $42 plus GST and can be purchased at the Sudbury Symphony office at 303 York St. or by phoning 673-1280.