Noteworthy

At the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, we believe music has the power to connect, inspire, and enrich lives—reaching people of all ages and stages, from children to seniors, and across diverse cultural communities. In TSO Touchpoints, a series celebrating the many ways the TSO makes an impact beyond the stage, we’re shining a light on the programs that bring music to life in unique and meaningful ways.

This month, we’re taking a look at our School Concerts—a program designed to spark curiosity, foster creativity, and build a life-long connection to music. We sat down with Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, TSO Barrett Principal Education Conductor & Community Ambassador, to talk about the importance of these concerts, the energy young audiences bring, and how donors help make it all possible.

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Noteworthy: What are TSO School Concerts?

Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser: TSO School Concerts are opportunities for kids, teachers, and parents to experience orchestral music and fall in love with it.

We achieve this in different ways—focusing on a composer, a group of instruments, a style of music, or a theme or concept. We want them to have an incredible experience that stays with them for years after they leave the hall.

NW: Why does the TSO put so much emphasis on these concerts?

DB: We do it for a number of reasons. First, because we love it. For the past hundred years, we’ve been committed to music education for young people. It’s one of our core values.

As a music educator, you just teach—it’s what you do. Music is something people can engage with from age 1 to 105. It’s a universal thing, spanning every culture on the planet.

Our approach has changed over time, but the goal is the same: music education is essential to a human’s development.

NW: There’s research showing that music education benefits kids academically. Do you think about that when you’re designing these programs?

DB: Honestly? I don’t think about that.

I think about what music adds to their lives—what kind of music they’ll enjoy, what instruments they might want to play.

Yes, we know music helps with mental health, improves math and science scores, and that medical schools have orchestras where students play together. But I do this because I love it, and I want kids to love it too.

You get all these extra benefits—but the core of it is still the love of music itself.

NW: How do you keep kids engaged?

DB: It’s a sin to bore a kid.

I don’t expect them to be engaged every single second—their minds wander, and that’s fine. But I want them to leave feeling like they had an incredible experience.

We plan these concerts carefully—if there’s a dip in energy, we adjust. Maybe we insert an activity, speed up the tempo, tell a joke.

It’s planned spontaneity—80% of the show is set, but the other 20% is reacting in the moment.

NW: What do you love most about leading these concerts?

DB: A lot.

I love the challenge of managing a crowd. Two thousand kids is like a giant ship—you have to steer the energy.

I love teaching. When I was a music teacher, I’d play a trumpet recording from an orchestra. Now, I cue the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. That’s a dream—teaching 2,000 kids at once, with the best musicians demonstrating in real time.

And I love conducting the orchestra. The TSO is incredible. They’re just a great orchestra to conduct.

NW: Do you ever see kids in the audience and think, ‘That could be a future conductor or musician’?

DB: I often tell kids at the end of concerts, “One day, some of you will be on stage with us.”

These concerts are the most important ones we do. If we want audiences in 20 years, they’re the ones sitting in front of us now.

Some will become musicians, some will be Board members, and some will come once a year for a Holiday Pops show. Right now, they’re just kids experiencing something new.

NW: There’s always talk about the state of orchestral music. What does this long-standing tradition say to you?

DB: It shows a commitment to growing the next generation of listeners.

Every ten years, someone writes about how classical music is dying. That’s been happening since the 1800s.

But if we don’t adapt, if we’re not smart, yes, things will decline. There will always be challenges.

At the same time, I see sold-out education shows and packed concerts featuring new music. That gives me hope.

We always have a fight on our hands—but it’s a fight we can win.

NW: How do donors play a role in making these concerts happen?

DB: When people give to the TSO, they are supporting more than an orchestra.

They’re investing in the lives of young people. In mental health, education, and cultural enrichment.

It’s like planting a tree. The best time to plant a tree was ten years ago. The second-best time is today.

If you’re enjoying an orchestra today, it’s because someone 40 years ago invested in it.

All of us in the TSO—musicians who got their first instruments, who attended a youth orchestra, who were inspired by a school concert—we’re here because somebody cared.

It’s about love.

Love for music. Love for community. Love for future generations.

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Want to Learn More?

TSO School Concerts continue to inspire thousands of young people every year. If you’re a teacher interested in bringing your students, learn more about upcoming programs at TSO.CA/SchoolConcerts.

To Our Supporters

Your generosity brings the magic of music beyond the concert hall and into the heart of our community. Thanks to donors like you, programs like our School Concerts introduce young minds to the joy of music and storytelling, creating unforgettable moments. Help us continue this important work by making a donation today at TSO.CA/Donate.