{"id":122881,"date":"2026-03-26T15:41:54","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T19:41:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=122881"},"modified":"2026-03-27T14:00:02","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T18:00:02","slug":"interview-liam-ritz-talks-working-national-youth-orchestra-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2026\/03\/26\/interview-liam-ritz-talks-working-national-youth-orchestra-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Liam Ritz Talks About Working With The National Youth Orchestra Of Canada"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_122884\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-122884\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-122884\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-03-26T153945.924.jpg\" alt=\"Liam Ritz (Photo courtesy of the artist)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-03-26T153945.924.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-03-26T153945.924-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-03-26T153945.924-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-03-26T153945.924-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-122884\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Liam Ritz (Photo courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The National Youth Orchestra of Canada has announced that Liam Ritz is the 2026 recipient of the Composer Mentorship Program with the SOCAN Foundation.<\/p>\n<p>Ritz is a Toronto-based composer whose career is set to take off. He\u2019s currently serving as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/07\/04\/scoop-liam-ritz-named-toronto-symphony-orchestras-rbc-affiliate-composer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">RBC Affiliate Composer of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra<\/a> through the end of the 2026\/27 season. With NYO Canada, he\u2019ll be writing a brand new commissioned work that the orchestra will premiere this summer.<\/p>\n<p>LV caught up with Ritz to talk about the opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>Liam Ritz&#8217;s Informal Worship for string quartet (2024)<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xW1LiVBQenk?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h2>Liam Ritz<\/h2>\n<p>Liam Ritz grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, and is currently based in Toronto. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toronto, studying under Abigail Richardson-Schulte. He has also participated in private composition studies and masterclasses with Tania Le\u00f3n, Dai Fujikura, P\u0113teris Vasks, Kalevi Aho, Robin de Raaff, Ana Sokolovi\u0107, Jean Lesage, Derek Bermel, Haralabos (Harry) Stafylakis, and Kelly-Marie Murphy.<\/p>\n<p>Liam was selected for the inaugural Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra Composer Fellowship Program (2018\/2019), and the 2026 Graham Sommer Competition for Young Composers, and has participated in programs such as the Winnipeg New Music Festival&#8217;s Composers Institute (2022\/23) and the Bowdoin International Music Festival&#8217;s Composition Program (2024).<\/p>\n<p>His talent has been recognized with multiple awards, including eight SOCAN Foundation Young Composers Awards, a Prix Artistique from Jeunesses Musicales Canada: Concours Do Mi Si La Do R\u00e9, and a 2020 City of Hamilton Arts Award.<\/p>\n<p>Liam has collaborated with several notable ensembles in Canada, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Talea Ensemble, and previously, also the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. He has worked with artists such as Gustavo Gimeno, Gemma New, Hannu Lintu, Cameron Crozman, and Etsuko Kimura, among others.<\/p>\n<p>His music draws from diverse influences that include jazz and pop music, visual arts, literature, dance, and theatre. Ritz\u2019s music has been programmed in solo and chamber recitals, with performance in North America, Italy, Finland, Argentina, and Japan.<\/p>\n<p>It has been featured at prominent festivals across North America, including the Bowdoin International Music Festival (Brunswick, Maine), Winnipeg New Music Festival (Winnipeg, MB), National Youth Orchestra of Canada&#8217;s Emerging Composer Mentorship Program (Kingston, ON), Orford Music Academy (Orford, QC), Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra&#8217;s What Next Festival (Hamilton, ON), University of Toronto&#8217;s New Music Festival (Toronto, ON), Scotia Festival of Music (Halifax, NS), and the Canadian Contemporary Music Workshop (Toronto, ON).<\/p>\n<h2>Liam Ritz: The Interview<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cI started as a violinist around the age of seven,\u201d Ritz recalls.<\/p>\n<p>However, even early on, his mother bought him a pad of manuscript paper, and taught him how to notate music. Writing his own compositions was not far behind.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was always sort of concurrent with my studies,\u201d he says. Around the age of 14, he shifted his main focus from performance to composition. \u201cIt was always something in the background.\u201d His teachers encouraged his efforts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was such an eye opening experience. You can just write something down, and people will play it!\u201d he laughs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor me, as a violinist, I had a bit of an injury early in high school,\u201d he explains. \u201cI had to pull back on my playing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A helpful teacher found a way for him to continue with his music studies. Liam, who grew up in Hamilton, began to take lessons from composer <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/03\/12\/interview-composer-abigail-richardson-schulte-talks-career-current-work-hamilton-philharmonic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Abigail Richardson-Schulte<\/a><\/strong>, located nearby in Dundas.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was a great connection,\u201d he says. \u201cShe&#8217;s such an incredible teacher, and really a wonderful advocate with me.\u201d With her help, he worked with the Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and found other opportunities and support.<\/p>\n<p>After private studies with Richardson-Schulte through high school, he went on to continue at the University of Toronto, where he also studied with her.<\/p>\n<h3>The National Youth Orchestra of Canada<\/h3>\n<p>Working with youth orchestras requires a bit of a different approach than with professional ensembles.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s sort of a balance,\u201d Ritz says. It\u2019s one he\u2019s prepared for. \u201cI&#8217;ve worked with youth orchestras before.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As he points out, the high level of performance required to be accepted into the NYOC makes them very similar to working with a professional orchestra in many ways. The NYOC also has a good amount of rehearsal time available, and support at every level. The way the organization is structured is something he has to take into account.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have to consider the practical,\u201d he explains. \u201cThis is lovely, because I don\u2019t really have to limit things like that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Outside of the basics, there are other issues to consider.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor some of these players, they may not have worked with a living composer before.\u201d It may mean having to introduce 21st century techniques, sounds, and performance practices, as he explains.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s already got a piece for them in progress.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI&#8217;m working on their piece as we speak. It&#8217;s top of mind right now,\u201d Ritz says. \u201cIt&#8217;s still in the middle part of the process.\u201d He mentions that he\u2019ll be working on it for about another month and a half. The orchestra opens with a chamber festival in June, and then orchestral rehearsals begin in July. His deadline is in May.<\/p>\n<p>He tends to approach each new piece as its own project. \u201cI usually approach each piece a little differently, depending on what it is,\u201d Liam explains. \u201cIt&#8217;s helpful with each piece to set yourself a certain number of parameters that narrow your focus a little bit,\u201d he adds. \u201cThe sooner I can set the groundwork, and the framework that I&#8217;m working with, the better.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For the NYOC, he\u2019s thinking about pulse as a sort of guiding principle. \u201cI&#8217;m thinking about using collective pulse, and collective rhythm,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy background is also in visual arts, and I approach it in a similar way.\u201d In a painting, you block out the canvas first in broad strokes, then hone in on detail gradually. \u201cLearning to do the big shapes first is very helpful to me,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI spend the most amount of time in the editing and reworking,\u201d he says. \u201cThe work of an artist or writer is editing. And that&#8217;s the hard work,\u201d he explains. \u201cIf your deadline is in May, you should hopefully have that full draft by February or March.\u201d That leaves two months or so to stare at your work and consider it from various angles.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI find editing the most enjoyable part.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Music Director Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser &amp; The NYO Canada Mentorship Program<\/h3>\n<p>Ritz is looking forward to working with NYOC Music Director Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI&#8217;ve already met with their Music Director,\u201d he says. He\u2019s run into him previously through his work as the RBC Affiliate Composer of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. \u201cBut it\u2019s our first time working together as composer and conductor,\u201d he notes.<\/p>\n<p>The NYOC holds their summer residency and rehearsal intensives at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. \u201cI&#8217;ll be joining them I believe for at least some of their rehearsals.,\u201d he says. Ritz will attend at least some of the NYOC\u2019s performances of his new work.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI&#8217;ve long admired them as an organization and orchestra,\u201d he says. During his time at university, he saw many of the fellow students spend their summers with the NYOC.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve had a couple of opportunities to work with them in the past.\u201d That includes an opportunity via a SOCAN Foundation reading session, which saw the orchestra give a reading of one of his works back in 2022. The NYOC also premiered one of his works of chamber music.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat a wonderful opportunity to work with this organization,\u201d he says. He\u2019s looking forward to working with their artistic and administrative team, along with the orchestra itself.<\/p>\n<p>He admires Bartholomew-Poyser\u2019s work and ability to connect classical music with audiences at all levels. \u201cHe does it excellently with any type of performer and audience,\u201d Liam adds.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat&#8217;s important for all of us,\u201d Ritz says. \u201cWe need more people like Daniel who see how truly relevant and important this art form still is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Stay tuned for details of the <strong>National Youth Orchestra\u2019s 2026 Canadiana Tour<\/strong>, featuring the world premiere of Liam Ritz\u2019 piece on <strong>July 18 in Toronto<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? 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Send us a\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"mailto:anya@ludwig-van.com?subject=Let's%20chat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em><u>note<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em><b>#LUDWIGVAN<\/b><\/em><\/h3>\n<p class=\"western\"><em>Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em>Sign up for the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! \u2014 local classical music and opera news straight to your inbox <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid=S3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid%3DS3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1695737525351000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QTqKRwRJQFGK3KoJYigxX\">HERE<\/a>.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Liam Ritz talks about his recent appointment as the 2026 recipient of the Composer Mentorship Program with the SOCAN Foundation for NYO Canada.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":122884,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[42533,17,18,39,3693,41221,9570,63],"tags":[38076,41309,2350],"yst_prominent_words":[6978,6616,20775,19765,9035,6613,20772,21670,6825,7487,9043],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-03-26T153945.924.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-vXX","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122881"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=122881"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122881\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":122905,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122881\/revisions\/122905"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/122884"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=122881"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=122881"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=122881"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=122881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}