That Higher Levelfollows the 100 musicians who make up the National Youth Orchestra of Canada over the course of two months of training and touring across the country. Embedded with the orchestra throughout, filmmaker John Bolton weaves together footage that captures the essence of the training institute and, eventually, the journey and performances on tour.
What does it take to be a musician in Canada’s National Youth Orchestra (NYO)? In what ways are the mentors important to the students? Discuss how the musicians can make it possible for each note to have its own personality and how they interpret the emotion of the music. The horn player noted that gender balance is beginning to happen in orchestras. Is there a fair representation of Canadian society in the NYO? Compare the risks to physical and mental health to other types of work. Discuss the difficulties involved in competing against each other in the future for professional work. The tour was described as gruelling, comprising 26 long days and 12 concerts across Canada. Why is it worth it for musicians to dedicate their lives to music?