CYMC — Comox Valley Youth Music Centre

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History

After 43 years of continuous operation CYMC has made a very significant impact on musical development locally, nationally and internationally. Because of the annual summer influx of renowned professional musicians, CYMC students have had access to teaching of very high caliber. Residents of the Valley have had the opportunity to attend performances of a standard usually available only in metropolitan centers. Nationally, every symphony orchestra in Canada includes musicians who have attended at least one of the intensive summer training sessions in the Comox Valley. Internationally, CYMC alumni can be found performing with major orchestras as Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, London and Berlin Philharmonic Symphonies

So many musicians, audiences and supporters have come through CYMC’s musical doors, leaving behind the wonderful memories of 42 years of Summer Festivals of Sounds. We have attempted to capture some of those memories here. Aware that we will have missed events, we would welcome your thoughts and additions to our story, feel free to email us.

In 1965 the Community Arts Council was formed for the promotions and fostering of cultural, educational and recreational initiatives. This group decided to conduct an annual summer school of the arts with Beryl Regier as the first director. She arranged that the Vancouver Junior Symphony open the first session of the school in the summer of 1966 with a concert, thus introducing Simons Streatfeild, then conductor of Vancouver Junior Symphony, to the Valley. Simon and Robert Creech (Director of Vancouver Junior Symphony) met with School District 71 and in 1967 Courtenay Youth Music Camp was born as a centennial project of the Junior Symphony Society of Vancouver (JSSV).

The Comox Valley was the natural choice Robert Creech recalled, “The natural beauty of the area, with ocean beaches, lakes, rivers and mountains was not blighted by pollution”.

The Timeline

• 1967 – There were 5 faculty members all from Vancouver’s Symphony Society. They hosted 55 young musicians, with support from the school board the season was a 2 week long event based out of Puntledge Park School.
• 1970 – Robert Creech took on the role of director (1970 – 1985). The CBC Faculty performances were recorded and CYMC added the Junior Section program for 8–13 year olds
• 1971 – CYMC moves to GP Vanier School when the enrollment grew to 105 students, the program was now 3 weeks long. Support started to roll in from local council, tourism groups, service clubs and Comox District Free Press. A “Friends of the CYMC” support group was formed and these early volunteers became the nucleus organization. Gerald Gerbrecht introduced wind ensemble during this year. Other new programs for 1971 include: ear training, piano and voice.
• 1972 – saw the premier of “Summer Music of Courtenay”. With 383 students registered CYMC was in the unfortunate position to have to turn away scores of students. Acoustic improvements were made to the gym at GP Vanier. Maestro Kazuyoshi Akiyama jetted in from Tokyo for 5 days of exciting music. Composer in residence Harry Freedman stimulated the camp and his work “Graphic 2”, was performed by the Purcell String Quartet. The opera strand was added this summer
• 1973 – In partnership with School District 71 CYMC was able to build a band room at Vanier. Simon Streadfeild returned to conduct and student enrollment was at 515, the program was expanded to 6 weeks to include orchestral instruments and jazz. Fees were a mere $60 and funding came from many grants, foundations as well as private donations. None of this was a match for double-digit inflation and a transportation strike. CYMC’s budget was now much larger than it’s parent Junior Symphony Organization.
• 1974 – Courtenay Youth Music Society (CYMS) was formed, and operations were transferred from JSSV to the new CYMS. Charles Pearce assumed the role of president. During the season 2 recordings were made called Summer Music from Courtenay, conducted by: Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Brian G Froerer, Bruce Moore (choral), Alex Paul, Simon Streatfeild and Stephen Wilkes. Opera was studied under Jacqueline Richard. The Purcell String Quartet laid the foundations for the chamber music program. The National Film Board filmed “Musicanada” and included CYMC. Conductor workshops were added to the program for the first time.
• 1975 – Former students returned as a pilot project to introduce Teachers Assistants. CYMC administration moved to Courtenay. College accredited programs were introduced in partnership with Vancouver Community College. Taras Gabora came to teach from Quebec bringing along many Quebecois students.
• 1976 – over 500 students attend. The program is now 6 weeks long. Young musicians from every Canadian province, many parts of the US, Great Britain and Japan attended, attracted by the international faculty which had grown to include internationally renowned performers from abroad as well as some to the finest musicians from across Canada. The program included; piano, voice, jazz, musical theatre, opera and dance. The Comox Valley Festival was inaugurated and eventually included a series of orchestral, chamber music and jazz concerts, recitals and for a number of years opera and musical theatre programs.
• 1977 – The grants bringing in students from Quebec sadly came to an end.
• 1978 – One of the shows was “A Mid Summers Night Dream” with Mary Morrison and Robert Rogers.
• 1979 – 354 students attended. Harry Freedman & Mavor Moore premiered their CYMC commissioned opera “Abracadabra” as part of the Summer Series. The Summer Music from Courtenay program exploded into the community as student musicians performed in parks, schools, theatres, restaurants and street markets reinforcing the ever-strong bond between artists and our community. The Viennese Night fundraiser was launched at the Westerly Hotel. My Fair Lady becomes CYMC’s first musical. An independent jazz workshop is added. The concept of joined faculty and student concerts was introduced. During this period the list of performers at Summer Music from Courtenay gained CYMC international recognition. The list includes (amongst others): The Purcell String Quartet, Steven Staryk, David Zafer, Rafi Armenian, Dennis Brott, Dave Robbins, Robert Silverman, Roland Turini, Per Obien, Phil Nimmons, Elmer Gill, Kathleen Rudolph, Ellen Silverman, Robert Rogers, Joel Quarrington, The LA 4, Laurinda Almeida, Bud Shank, Ray Brown, Jeff Hamilton, Angela Hewitt, Louis Quillico, Anton Kuerti, Peter Katin, Fraser McPherson, George Shearing, Don Thompson and Jose-Luis Garcia
• 1980 – Opera and musical theatre were added, attracting students from Canada, the U.S.A., the United Kingdom and Japan. The performances of “Cosi fan Tutti” and “The Sound of Music” attracted house packing crowds. Robert Stovall replaced Charles Pearce as president. The faculty records Brahms and Simon Streatfeild returns to conduct.
• 1981 – Timothy Vernon conducts at CYMC for the first time. Mrs. Henry Bell Irving, wife of the Lieutenant Governor of BC becomes CYMC patron. Choral and Modern Dance programs are added. CYMC had a $125,000 deficit threatening it’s existence.
• 1982 – Camilla Ross joined as consultant. Robert Silverman hosted a January benefit concert as part of the “Save CYMC” campaign. College credit courses begin with North Island College. A movement, mask and mime program was added. The Magic Flute was performed. BC registered Music Teachers hold their convention at CYMC – Dr Perry is honorary guest speaker. A children’s Opera strand was introduced.
• 1983 – Robert G Rogers (Lieutenant Governor) becomes patron. Alice Bullen took over as President and Charles Pearce became the first General Manager of CYMC. The financial struggles continued and Summer Brass Music guest conductors included Ifor James – french horn soloist, and former member of Phillip Jones Brass Ensemble. Summer Chamber ensemble Guest artists Michael Hoeltzel & french horn, conductor, flute. Children’s arts world component & Suzuki violin are added to the program. 240 Valley students are sponsored by CYMC. The CBC Presents series focuses on CYMC.
  The Opera performances were; Barber of Seville, stage direction Irving Guttman, Conductor Timothy Vernon and Noye’s Fludde Artistic Director Irving Guttman, Conductor: Nicholas Goldschmidt, Choreographer – Jamie Zagoudakis.
• 1984 – Jack Kent was president. Extensive restructuring, tightened controls over expenditure and further steps towards rationalizing the structure took place with the incorporation of “The Comox Valley Music Society”. 6,000 people attended CYMC performances including The Marriage of Figaro. Winter art film series is introduced.
• 1985 – Terence Ryan was elected as chairman. 8,300 people attended CYMC shows including the opera; Die Fledermaus. A highland bagpipe class was added.
• 1986 – Celebration of 20 years of CYMC making it the longest running summer music program and festival in BC. Peter Robinson print commemorates the anniversary. Timothy Vernon becomes Artistic Director. The shows include The Mikado
• 1987 – CYMC hosts Emily Carr mobile studio workshop. Robert Bateman provides an original print for CYMC raffle. For the first time CYMC hosts students from Japan. The deficit is eliminated and the musical was Pirates of Penzance.
• 1988 – CYMC performances are recorded for CBC’s “Arts National” program. An endowment fund is created with the Vancouver Foundation for scholarships and bursaries. The musical was Send in the Clowns featuring original music. The winter concert series was introduced with Jon Kimura Parker, The Purcell String Quartet and New Orleans Connection.
• 1989 – Voice and Song interpretation added. The Choral workshop performs Mozart’s “Coronation Mass”. Moe Koffman Quintet attends CYMC. Faculty members dress up as 4 clarinets for the annual Courtenay Parade. The show that year was Star Warp & a Space Oddity.
• 1997 – CYMC moved up Mount Washington.
• 1999 – Stephanie Spiers was hired as Executive Director, Yariv Aloni is new Artistic Director and Conductor. Student numbers all time low and recovery from the ‘mountain’ begins. CYMC at North Island College. Musical Theatre performs “Fame”. Liz Datoo is president of the Board.
• 2000 – Executive director; Bettyanne Hampton joins CYMC, with 3 main goals: eliminate the sizable inherited debt; develop a regional youth or community orchestra, create and produce a “symphony by the sea” event, The musical was “A Funny thing happened on the Way to The forum”. Rotary and CYMC partner in an “Adventures in Music”, a sponsorship initiative which brings students to CYMC from throughout Canada.
• 2001 – Sweet Charity, CYMC introduces _ day programs for: the Community Fiddling, Elemental Jazz and Junior Strings. Hugh Fraser brings African Rhythm workshop to Jazz program.
• 2002 – The musical was Cabaret. Box office soars, student registration doubles. Student numbers outgrow available space at NIC – campus moves to Aspen school in Comox. Student Simon Millard invited on stage to play with jazz faculty.
• 2003 – The musical was Evita CYMC float takes 1st prize in the July 1st parade in Courtenay. Invitation extended to local adult musicians to join students and faculty in the final orchestra and concert band performance
• 2004 – Musical was Chicago. First CYMC Pacific Jazz Festival, held on the waterfront in the Filberg Park Estate in Comox. Rotary Adventures in Music sponsors 20 students from across Canada. Students from Netherlands, Japan, New Zealand and US
• 2005 – The musical was Jesus Christ Superstar Bettyanne Hampton achieves her objective to develop an orchestra for our region and succeeds with the co-launch of Strathcona Symphony Orchestra Primary objective to pay down the inherited CYMC debt is met.
• 2006 – The Musical was Guys and Dolls. First international Adventures in Music sponsored student arrives from England.
• 2007 – goal to present Symphony by the Sea achieved.