OTTAWA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA-L'ORCHESTRE SYMPHONIQUE D'OTTAWA

THE PRIMARY AIM OF THE OTTAWA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ('OSO' OR THE 'ORCHESTRA') IS TO CREATE MEMORABLE MUSICAL EXPERIENCES THAT BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. THEY DO THIS BY PERFORMING LARGE-SCALE REPERTOIRE INCLUDING CANADIAN MUSIC FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND BY ENABLING DEDICATED LOCAL MUSICIANS TO COME TOGETHER TO PLAY EXCITING REPERTOIRE IN A LARGE CONCERT HALL. THE OSO'S CONCERT OFFERINGS AND CHARITABLE PROGRAMS ALSO INCLUDE AN ACTIVE STUDENT MENTORSHIP PROGRAM WHEREBY SELECT POST-SECONDARY MUSIC STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA AUDITION TO BE ASSOCIATE MEMBERS OF THE ORCHESTRA EACH SEASON. ADDITIONALLY FOR SIX YEARS THE OSO OFFERED FEATURE SOLO PERFORMANCES WITH THE ORCHESTRA TO STUDENT WINNERS OF THE SÉNECAL-MOZART PRIZE. IN 2021 THE OSO LAUNCHED A PILOT PROGRAM WITH CARLETON UNIVERSITY. THIS STUDENT MENTORSHIP PROGRAM HAS MEANT THAT FIVE PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS OF THE OSO HAVE BEEN TEACHING SELECT HIGH LEVEL MUSIC STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY SINCE SEPTEMBER 2021. THIS PROGRAM HAS CONTINUED ON IN THE 2024 FISCAL YEAR. AS PART OF ITS EFFORTS TO BROADEN AND DIVERSIFY ITS AUDIENCE THE OTTAWA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA EXPANDED THE MARKETING AND USE OF ITS UPBEAT (PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS DOWNBEAT) PROGRAM WHICH OFFERS SYMPHONY CONCERTS FOR A STEEPLY DISCOUNTED PRICE. AS A RESULT THE OSO HAS SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN NEW AUDIENCE MEMBERS FROM A YOUNGER AND MORE DIVERSE DEMOGRAPHIC. AS WELL THE SYMPHONY OPENS ITS DOORS TO ITS THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN TIMES OF NEED.