PLAYING IN POVERTY

Why is Canada’s National Youth Orchestra languishing? “The NYO is limping through the summer, barely recognized, tightening its belt at every stop. Its training period has been reduced from four weeks to three. Its annual summer tour schedule has been slashed virtually in half. Its government funding has been cut from 77 per cent of revenues to 48 per cent. And the size of the symphony has fallen from 105 members to 84.” – The Globe and Mail (Canada)