Manitoba Musicians Take the Stage with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada
Two young horn players with strong ties to Manitoba are touring the country this summer with one of Canada’s most prestigious music institutions. Katie Skwarchuk and Sarah Bell are part of the 2025 National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYO), which kicks off its 65th anniversary tour this Friday, July 18, with stops in Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa, Vancouver, Nanaimo, and Victoria.
The two musicians, who both grew up in Manitoba, joined Classic 107 over Zoom to talk about their experience in the NYO so far, the challenges of orchestral playing, and what they're most looking forward to on tour.
Manitoba Roots, National Stages
Katie Skwarchuk recently completed her Bachelor of Music at the University of Manitoba's Desautels Faculty of Music and is continuing with a music research degree at the same school. Her early horn studies were with Aidan Kleer.
Sarah Bell, who lived in Manitoba until she was 18, did her undergraduate studies at the Glenn Gould School in Toronto and is now heading into her second year of a master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music in New York. Her high school horn teacher was Michiko Singh.
A Simulated Audition, Real Nerves
Each year, more than 500 young musicians audition for a spot in the NYO, but only the most elite are selected. The audition process, while recorded, is designed to replicate the intensity of a live audition.
“They try to simulate it as much as possible as like a digital format,” said Skwarchuk. “So we record our auditions, but everything... has to be recorded in one long segment without stopping the track in between.”
Bell added that audition preparation is a major focus of the program. “Professionals have taken many auditions and they slowly develop a process, and then they each share with us. So we've had a lot of talks about that with each teacher as they've come through.”
When it comes to managing nerves, Skwarchuk noted, “Everyone kind of has different strategies.” Bell agreed: “It's impossible to not be nervous, and it's kind of good to feel a little bit of that excitement.”
Chamber First, Orchestra Second
Before diving into full orchestral rehearsals, NYO musicians spend two weeks focused entirely on chamber music—a structure both players appreciated.
“I was in a brass sextet and it’s really valuable because it’s just an opportunity to... really hone your ears and work with a smaller group of people,” said Skwarchuk.
Bell noted the uniqueness of NYO’s chamber music intensive: “They choose to make the two weeks completely focused on the chamber music. So... you're really just thinking about your chamber piece, and that’s a really unique thing that they do here.”
This chamber work directly impacts orchestral playing. “You're playing with the woodwinds as if you were playing in this quintet, but then within the context of the strings,” said Bell.
Horn Heaven: Mahler, Shostakovich, Debussy
This year’s repertoire is packed with great horn writing, including Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10, and Debussy’s La Mer.
Although neither player is tackling the iconic obbligato solo in Mahler 5, Skwarchuk is on fourth horn and finds the part incredibly demanding. “I play my lowest pedal note up to my highest note throughout the whole piece, so it's really really a challenge, but it's a lot of fun.”
Bell added that Mahler’s writing demands precise interpretation: “It’s not a suggestion. You really do have to follow what he says... the tempo changes, articulations, dynamics, everything.”
Even the language adds to the challenge. “All of it is actually written in German,” said Skwarchuk. “At the beginning of the session, all of us once had like a German translation party.”
Keeping Bodies—and Embouchures—Healthy
Big repertoire like Mahler and Shostakovich can take a toll on brass players. “It for sure is hard on the chops and also the body,” said Skwarchuk. Thankfully, NYO’s strong funding this year means players have access to massage therapy and physiotherapy. “We're really, really lucky that we get to take advantage of that this year.”
Beyond playing demanding music, Bell and Skwarchuk emphasized how much they’ve learned from working with top-level faculty and peers.
“My section playing has definitely improved a lot,” said Skwarchuk. “We’ve also had orchestral etiquette classes... I think non-musicians would be really surprised about all the little unspoken rules.”
Bell appreciated the opportunity to rotate parts: “I'm not playing the same part on any piece. So hearing from different parts of the section is always a really good... experience.”
Looking Ahead to the Tour
As they prepare to hit the road, both players are excited to bring this music to audiences across the country.
“The repertoire we're playing is just so awesome, especially as a horn player,” said Skwarchuk. “And it's really fun meeting new people... also, Sarah and I actually went to high school together. So it's really fun to reconnect.”
Bell is particularly looking forward to the Toronto concert: “I played Mahler 5, Horn 3... the exact same part, same piece last February. So it's exciting to get to go back and do it, but with new people—it’s a completely different experience.”
As the National Youth Orchestra of Canada celebrates its 65th anniversary, musicians like Katie Skwarchuk and Sarah Bell exemplify the talent, dedication, and drive that define the next generation of Canadian classical performers. With challenging repertoire, national stages, and a shared passion for music, the tour is not just a milestone for the orchestra—but a powerful stepping stone in the careers of these two proud Manitobans.