Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
The VSO at the historic Orpheum.
Musical Director Otto Tausk.
Founded in 1919, the Grammy and Juno–award winning Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is the third largest orchestra in Canada, the largest arts organization in Western Canada, and one of the few orchestras in the world with its own music school. The orchestra presents exceptional, passionate performances of classical, popular, and culturally diverse music, creating meaningful engagement with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
Dutch conductor Otto Tausk is the Music Director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Advisor of the VSO School of Music, now in his sixth season. He is also the chief conductor of the recently formed Phion Orkest van Gelderland & Overijssel. He appears as a guest with such orchestras as Concertgebouworkest, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Stuttgarter Philharmoniker, and many more!
Recent guest artists in the 2023 season have included Yeol Eum Son, Louis Lortie, Sarah Chang, Karen Gomyo, and Yo-Yo Ma, among many others.
An important part of the VSO’s mandate is to educate and advocate for music learning through its various education and community programs, including those for young children. Furthermore, the VSO is committed to working with the next generation of musicians by giving students performance opportunities alongside professional musicians. Through its Jean Coulthard Readings, the organization gives emerging BC composers the opportunity to have their work played by the VSO.
To ensure accessibility for the younger generation, the VSO also offers a discount program called the All-Access Pass. This program offers $20 tickets to select concerts for anyone aged between 18 and 35, or full-time students.
In 2023, the VSO collaborated with VIFF for the VIFF Amp Composer Filmmaker Accelerator, which saw three-time Emmy-nominated film and television composer Miriam Cutler mentor five filmmakers and twelve composers to create original scores to scenes from four BC films.
Support of the VSO helps enrich and transform lives through impassioned performances and inspirational education programs, keeping extraordinary music accessible and affordable to all.
The VSO’s home venue is the Orpheum Theatre, located at:
604 Smithe Street
Vancouver
V6B 1L7
