Kingston Youth Orchestra

Ensembles

Kingston Youth Orchestra

The Kingston Youth Orchestra is made up of high school-aged musicians who seek a challenge, who are developing their ensemble skills, and possibly considering a career in music. We are the only full orchestra (strings, winds, brass, and percussion) for youth in Kingston and the surrounding area. Our orchestra performs a wide range of music, at an intermediate to advanced level, from Masterworks to Pops. We draw our membership from our own string preparatory groups as well as from other local string programs and private teachers in Kingston. Most of our wind, brass, and percussion players come from area high schools and from private teaching studios.

The Kingston Youth Orchestra is conducted by Hugh Johnston and we proudly celebrated our 55th anniversary a couple years ago in 2023-2024. We perform two concerts each season and also perform in festivals and outreach concerts. Many alumni of the Kingston Youth Orchestra, as well as being successful in other fields, have gone on to pursue careers as professional musicians and remain active in music as members of community orchestras and ensembles.

Kingston Youth Strings

The Kingston Youth Strings is an intermediate string ensemble and consists of musicians who are keen to develop their performing skills. They perform an exciting repertoire of music from various genres, which leads to an introduction to orchestral technique and style. They perform in at least two concerts each year as well as at festivals and outreach concerts. The Kingston Youth Strings promote interest in more advanced string playing and nurture future participation in the Kingston Youth Orchestra. The instrumentation of this ensemble includes violin, viola, cello, and double bass.

Kingston A-Strings

The Kingston A-Strings is an introductory ensemble for young string musicians. They work on unison ensemble playing in a supportive and nurturing environment. The Kingston A-Strings is designed to foster confidence and enthusiasm for music and provides a foundation for the successful implementation of proper string technique. Members participate in two concerts each season. The instrumentation of this ensemble includes violin, viola, cello, and double bass.

Artistic Directors

Hugh Johnston, Kingston Youth Orchestra Music Director

Hugh Johnston was a regular player in the Kingston Symphony trumpet section from 2001 to 2012 and is an award-winning music educator. He won the MusicCounts Teacher of the Year Juno Award in 2012. Hugh has trained as a musician and conductor at Queen’s University, University of Calgary, and University of London, U.K. His expressive and communicative conducting style, as well as his work in music education, has enabled him to conduct performances at Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Carnegie Hall in New York, and Cadogan Hall in London, home of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

In addition to orchestral work, Hugh has conducted numerous musicals, operettas, choirs, bands, and brass ensembles and was the founder and artistic director of Kingston Summer Music, a summer program for Kingston’s youth.

Daphne Kennedy, Kingston Youth Strings and Kingston A-Strings Conductor

Daphne Kennedy is a 2016 Bachelor of Music graduate of Queen's University with early teaching experience working as a Lower Strings Teaching Artist with Sistema Kingston during its inaugural year in 2015. Passionate about music education and travelling, she moved to England where she spent five years broadening her musical horizons and teaching music to young people across London and Cambridge. During her time abroad, she enjoyed singing in several choral societies, which led her to perform in some of the most recognizable churches and cathedrals in England, France, Spain, and Malta. Dedicated to music education, her experiences teaching music to adolescents at the Red Balloon Learner Centre in Cambridge reinforced her belief in the transformative power of music and community engagement.

Upon her return to Canada in 2020, Daphne resumed her work with Sistema Kingston as a Teaching Artist and joined Kingston Community Strings as Cello Section Lead. She has performed as a guest cellist with the Kingston Choral Society, Kingston's Melos Choir & Period Instruments, and is featured on their Voces Feminarum recording. Since 2021, Daphne has worked as a registered carpenter's apprentice, while also continuing to pursue her passion for music performance and education in the Kingston area. In Spring of 2025, Daphne formed a new community ensemble called Kingston Cello Choir, continuing on the legacy of Wolf Tormann’s Cello Orchestra. She looks forward to starting her new position as General Manager of the Kingston Youth Orchestra and new director of Kingston A-Strings and Kingston Youth Strings as well as continuing her work with Sistema Kingston in the upcoming 2025-2026 academic year. In the quieter moments, Daphne loves spending time at her country home tending to the gardens or sitting down with a book and a cup of tea with her partner and their pup, Oreo.

Auditions and Rehearsals

Are you interested in meeting other young musicians, rehearsing and performing some great repertoire, participating in workshops and receiving coaching from Kingston Symphony musicians and visiting artists, competing in local and regional music festivals, performing in some of Kingston’s finest concert venues, and attending open rehearsals of the Kingston Symphony? The Kingston Youth Orchestra, Kingston Youth Strings or Kingston A-Strings is the perfect place for you!

Auditions for the Kingston Youth Orchestra, Kingston Youth Strings, and Kingston A-Strings will be held on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Please complete the audition form at the following link and someone will be in touch with you to schedule your audition time. Auditions will take place at Crossroads United Church (690 Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard).

Inquiries

If you would like to get more information, please contact Daphne Kennedy, General Manager.