GSO in the Community

One of our organization’s most important mandate is to make outreach services available to all, at no cost or subsidized, offering equal access for all to this great art form. As we believe that music has the ability to unite people, we feel it is important to keep the presence of music ever available in our community.

Sounds of Summer Garden Festival 2021

Free Outdoor Concert- “From Beethoven to Baby Shark”

Programs and Events

Sounds of Summer Garden Festival

Past Seasons:

GSO Pop Up Orchestra Festival

Wonderful to perform Appalachian Spring, in the (extremely warm) barn of Zocalo farm … It was a real celebration of people committed to changing the world-organic farmers, brewers and vintners, environmentalists, and restaurant owners who want to make a difference. And all for such a good cause; the Grand River Conservation Foundation!
CULTURE DAYS
Once again, the GSO’s contribution to the River Run Centre’s open house for Culture Days was a rousing success. Stationed in the spacious Canada Company Hall, kids and parents sat with orchestra members as they played. There were entertaining instrument demonstrations with hands-on experience and even lessons in humming along to Beethoven which culminated in a lobby performance of ‘Ode to Joy’ with the orchestra.
TOYS FOR KIDS
Continuing our partnership from the last four years, our audience and GSO musicians are invited to bring the true spirit of Christmas to the Holiday Classics concert on Dec 9, 2018, by bringing an unwrapped new toy for the Children’s Foundation’s Adopt-a-Family toy drive. Adopt-A-Family is part of the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington.
Three full bags of toys and games AND a giant Teddy were delivered by Ron Dolynchuk, GSO violist, Judith and Catherine, to Sheila Robinson, volunteer with Adopt-A-Family.
5K RUN & WALK
The Guelph Symphony Orchestra partners annually with the Speed River Track and Field Club and the Guelph Victors in the Summer Night’s Classical 5K. This fundraising race is an opportunity to support the orchestra, and join musicians and community members on a beautiful summer’s evening run or walk. The course begins and ends at the Guelph Youth Music Centre, going through quiet neighbourhoods, the gorgeous Homewood grounds and returning through the Trans-Canada trail. There is a countdown, with musicians at every km. 4, 3, 2, 1 – a quartet, trio, duet and solo at 4K to charge you on to the finish line!
GUELPH CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION AMAZING RACE
GSO participated in the Guelph Children’s Foundation’s Southwestern Ontario Amazing Race which raised $68,000 for Children’s programs in our city. At our station “Play that Tune or Name that Tune”, teams had a choice to learn to play Twinkle Twinkle on a violin together (with one team member playing the notes and the other guiding the bow over the strings) or to correctly identify ten pieces from a list of fifty. Such a fun day!