News
Fredericton event will showcase incredible music, food and honour a community champion for her support
FEB. 17, 2025. FREDERICTON, N.B. : The New Brunswick Youth Orchestra (NBYO) will host the final gala fundraising banquet of the season on Saturday, Feb. 22 to commemorate the orchestra’s 60th anniversary, "Orchestrating a Legacy of Excellence."
Delta Hotels by Marriott Fredericton will host the fundraising banquet, starting at 6 p.m. Saturday. Kenn Mainville, NBYO ‘s President and CEO, said prior gala fundraisers in Moncton, Miramichi and Saint John were well attended.
“These events have been instrumental in supporting the New Brunswick portion of our 60th Anniversary Season tour, allowing us to bring our music to communities across the province. Ticket sales for the Fredericton gala are starting to pick up, and we’re hoping to see many more join us for what promises to be a fantastic evening of music,” Mainville said.
Don Matheson, NBYO’s Director of Community Engagement, said the gala dinners have been terrific “orchestral appetizers” for subsequent concert spectaculars.
“A highlight of each gala dinner has been presentation of our NBYO Community Champion Awards. Dr. Mary Pedersen will be recognized for her generous support at our Feb. 22 dinner at the Delta Fredericton,” he said. “We have enjoyed countless heartwarming moments in each of the previous dinners and concerts this season… Alumni and long-standing generous patrons have been enchanted at each event.”
Tony Delgado, NBYO music director and conductor, said the audience will savour a variety of musical treats at the gala event.
“We'll have a mix of classical, popular and Acadian songs for the enjoyment of the Fredericton audience. We'll also have a number with our Hostess and local Soprano Sally Dibblee,” he said.
Delgado said one of the highlights at the gala events is the opportunity for attendees to approach and get to know the young musicians.
“Our NBYO members certainly enjoy these opportunities and appreciate the words of encouragement and admiration from sponsors and patrons in general,” he said.
Matheson said numerous long-standing NBYO patrons and supporters in the capital region are essential for the orchestra’s continued success. This year’s Fredericton Community Foundation Philanthropy in Action laureates Bill and Margaret Jones have renewed their Maple Leaf Homes presenting sponsorship of NBYO.
“It is an honour and a privilege for NBYO members, faculty, and staff to engage with leading enterprises and institutions in every community where we tour and perform,” Matheson said. “The City of Fredericton and Anglophone School District West continue to facilitate our Sistema NB and NBYO programming, giving more youth musicians both inspiration and opportunity. CFB Gagetown and the Military Family Resource Centre have hosted and partnered with the orchestra for several seasons. Hundreds of Horizon Health Network personnel from every region of the province have been welcomed to NBYO concert events.”
Matheson also acknowledged the efforts of the New Brunswick Community College, St. Thomas University, and University of New Brunswick to invite NBYO members to local campuses to learn about post-secondary programs.
“We share a mutual interest in recruiting and retaining our brightest and most talented youth here in New Brunswick,” he said.
Mainville said this final fundraiser will help support the orchestra’s season finale at the Currie Centre on March 23, “an event we are incredibly excited to share with the community.
“The largest audiences in our 60-year history have embraced the NBYO this year. It is gratifying to see the passionate emotional response of myriad New Brunswickers. We welcome everyone to experience the thrill of NBYO in live performance.”
Tickets for the fundraising banquet are available for $150 per person and can be purchased at nbyotickets.com.
For more information:
NBYO President & CEO—Kenn Mainville kmainville@nbyo-ojnb.com (506) 229-1924
NBYO Maestro—Antonio Delgado tonydelgado@nbyo-ojnb.com (506) 229-4985
