Our Vision
We see a society in which every person can confidently express themselves in song.
We see community bands thriving in every neighborhood of our city, filled with people listening and performing together from all walks of life.
We see an entertainment district in Vancouver that is safe and that serves as a place to celebrate the arts, creativity, and one another.
We see a society of every day cooperation and collaboration that mirrors the egoless wonder of ensemble experiences, bridging the gaps of race, age, gender, religion, wealth, and, yes, musical training.
The Open Air Orchestra Society was incorporated as a non-profit society in the winter of 2007. Led by a group of amateur musicians who loved their community music group, The Carnival Band, the society was formed to promote ensemble playing and advocacy throughout the city.
We strive to build partnerships with Vancouver's rich resource of professionally trained musicians to conduct public workshops in creative performance. We focus on culturally diverse and locally composed musical performance, with the vision of fostering community spirit, empowerment, creativity, and skill.
With the uncontrollable colour and vibrancy that these workshops create, we are then able to support, through music, local social and environmental organizations that are doing the good work our culture and community so deeply needs.