About the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra
Who We Are
The Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra (VMO) is a non-profit society and registered charitable organization founded by Maestro Kenneth Hsieh in 2003. Since 2009, the VMO has operated as a full professional orchestra under the American Federation of Musicians/Vancouver Musician’s Association.
Our Mission
The VMO’s mission is threefold:
- To inspire the musical and personal development of talented post-graduate musicians by providing unparalleled opportunities and mentorship
- To advocate for continual development and involvement in classical music as a mentor to young musicians
- To enrich the cultural foundation of our community through thoughtful, live performance
What We Do
The VMO is dedicated to providing performing opportunities for Young Professionals alongside Seasoned leading professionals who act as mentors from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. Our prime focus is to provide professional development through repertoires commonly asked for in orchestra auditions.
Professional mentors lead their sections through rehearsals and performances, in addition to occasional sectional rehearsals where difficult excerpts are worked on. We engage both established soloists and emerging talents, providing a platform to showcase their abilities.
A young Assistant Conductor works with the orchestra and is given ample podium time during rehearsals and performances to gain experience working with a professional orchestra. They also collaborate with the music director in giving pre-concert talks and presentations to the public.
Our Programme
We perform a diverse repertoire including:
- Music from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods
- Contemporary and popular music
- Collaborations with opera companies, choirs, and traditional folk music groups
- New works by Canadian Composers (through our composer-in-residence program)
Our choice of repertoire focuses on music that is commonly asked for in Orchestra Auditions.
Development Opportunities
The VMO provides:
- Mentorship from experienced professional musicians
- Live, public performances
- Instructional seminars, classes and workshops led by experts
In the past two decades, the VMO has helped launch the careers of many young talents who are now performing with renowned musical organizations around the world. As a testimonial to our success, many VMO alumni have continued their involvement with the organization by becoming VMO mentors.
Our History and Highlights
The VMO held its first concert in summer of 2003 at Shaughnessy Heights United Church to a full audience with 16 orchestral members. Since then, the orchestra has grown to 58 members performing works from baroque to contemporary periods.
Key highlights include:
- 2008-2009: Received first government support for the BC 150 celebration
- 2009: Collaborated with Goh Ballet for their inaugural locally-produced “Nutcracker”
- 2013: Began annual free outdoor concerts at Jack Poole Plaza, attracting 7,000-10,000 spectators yearly
- 2015: Served as orchestra for the Canadian Music Competition when finals were held in British Columbia
- 2017: Celebrated 15th Anniversary with a move to the Chan Centre for Performing Arts at UBC, featuring a world premiere commission and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Vancouver Bach Choir to a sold-out audience
The VMO has presented many renowned soloists including Libby Yu, Henri-Paul Sicsic, Yu Kosuge, Tamaki Kawakubo, Mari Endo, and Kaoru Kondou, as well as over 100 young emerging Canadian soloists.
Community Involvement
The VMO collaborates with numerous charitable organizations including:
- BC Children’s Hospital
- BC/Canada Cancer Society
- Stem Cells Research
- St. Paul Hospital Foundation
- Senior care homes
- New immigrant and refugee societies
Since 2015, the VMO has conducted 10-15 educational outreaches annually to elementary and secondary schools through innovative presentations, performances, seminars, and workshops.
Support the Orchestra
The price of concert tickets only covers a portion of the total cost to operate the VMO. As a non-profit registered organization, we rely on support from our patrons, sponsors, and other funding sources to sustain our mission and support the work of our talented musicians.