About The Society

Since 1976, the Surrey Symphony Society has provided young musicians aged eight to twenty years, with high caliber musical instruction and opportunities for public performance. Our members are challenged by our musical training program, and rewarded for their commitment. Concerts, as well as other public musical performances upon invitation are presented and foster musical appreciation in the community.

Over the course of our
more than thirty years in operation, the non-profit Surrey Symphony Society has achieved our goals, developing young talent and maintaining high musical standards. We are proud of our young musicians, who enjoy a positive atmosphere of teamwork, and who develop and demonstrate tremendous talent and commitment. Thanks goes to our great conductors, clinicians and Board members, who are committed to both the musical and the personal development of the students.

Participating in rehearsals, workshops and concerts, our diversely multicultural membership has included young musicians from throughout the communities of Surrey, White Rock, Delta, Langley, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Burnaby, North Vancouver, Mission, Chilliwack,  Abbotsford and Vancouver.

We support three different orchestras: the Junior Strings, the Intermediate Strings, and the Surrey Youth Orchestra as well as a Chamber Music Program. All of our programs present wonderful classical repertoire which provides our members with valuable orchestral experience, and our audiences with great music..

The Junior Strings, for younger musicians looking to hone their ensemble abilities, is a string orchestra consisting of violins, violas, and cellos. The Junior Strings Conductor is Rick Dorfer.

The members of the Intermediate Strings gain more experience in an ensemble situation, playing exciting string orchestra pieces with other young musicians, and at times in concert with professional musicians as well. Carla Birston is the Conductor of the Intermediate Strings.

The Surrey Youth Orchestra is a full orchestra with the full array of woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion instruments. Conductor John van Deursen leads this award-winning orchestra of advanced students who are looking for an opportunity to play challenging pieces with other very talented young musicians. 

The Surrey Symphony Society’s Chamber Music Program operates as an additional optional activity to our existing orchestras.  Chamber music is a genre of classical music originally intended to be performed by small ensembles in an intimate setting such as a private salon or a small concert hall.  Today, it gives students the opportunity to further develop musical skills such as listening, rhythm, intonation and an understanding of compositional form.  Additionally, by working within a small ensemble, students develop leadership skills and a sense of musical responsibility and accountability.

The program is open to any interested students who are playing at least at the level of RCM Grade 3/end of Suzuki Book 2, and who are at least 7 years old. Players of all instruments are eligible to join an ensemble. Following a placement audition, students will be placed into small ensembles with others of similar age and playing ability.  Each ensemble will then be assigned an instructor.  Rehearsals take place on Saturdays, either during or after the o rchestra rehearsals. You do not have to be a member of the orchestra program to join the Chamber Music Program, but orchestra members are encouraged to participate as well.

The Surrey Symphony Society - where talented young musicians learn valuable orchestral ensemble skills, and have fun, too!

To find out more, Contact Us.


Copyright © 2004 - 2012 Surrey Youth Orchestra - All Rights Reserved