Arts Orillia has announced a new partnership with the Orillia Opera House that aims to reduce barriers for young people seeking access to live performance and hands-on experience in the performing arts, marking a significant collaboration within the city’s cultural economy.
The partnership, unveiled during the holiday season, brings together Arts Orillia (AO), the municipally operated Orillia Opera House and local educators to create mentorship-driven performance opportunities for youth. The initiative reflects a growing emphasis on workforce development within the arts sector, particularly as cultural organizations look to cultivate talent and sustain audience engagement over the long term.
As part of the collaboration, AO joined forces with Orillia-based Brassworks and music educators from across the city to present Let It Snow, a festive concert that united students from all three local high schools with professional musicians. The performance provided young artists with direct exposure to large-scale production and live performance in a professional venue. “I was excited to see another 100 young people walk on stage,” said Cultural Coordinator Allie Bradford.
The new partnership builds on the momentum of AO’s Forever Young concert series, which launched in May 2025. The program is designed to pair emerging musicians with established artists, allowing students to gain real-world experience while performing for paying audiences. The concept was developed by three local secondary school students during a co-op placement with Arts Orillia, highlighting the organization’s emphasis on youth-led programming.
The inaugural Forever Young concert sold out and was staged at the Orillia Opera House with support from Theatre Manager Emily Martin. The event featured local band Sleepy Jan performing alongside Arts Orillia’s Twin Lakes co-op students. Beyond the performance itself, students were involved in event planning, marketing and production, offering practical exposure to the business side of live entertainment.
“The show energized the historic theatre with fresh voices,” Arts Orillia said, while also providing young participants with insight into the operational realities of producing live events—skills that extend beyond the stage and into arts administration and technical theatre.
The series continued in November with a second edition held at the Gordon Lightfoot Auditorium. That performance paired established artist Taylor Knox with youth performers, further reinforcing the mentorship model. A third installment is already scheduled for March 2026 and will be led by former co-op student and emerging producer Liam Finney of Still Deciding.
Finney’s trajectory reflects the broader goals of the partnership. He is set to attend MetalWorks Institute to pursue music production, a milestone Arts Orillia describes as evidence of the program’s impact on career pathways within the creative industries.
“It’s a great way for us to support the amazing work Arts Orillia is doing and ensure we have another generation of citizens engaged in performance and this building,” said Martin, referring to the Opera House’s role as both a cultural landmark and an economic asset for downtown Orillia.
Arts Orillia’s mentorship initiatives extend beyond performance, offering training in producing, curation, arts administration and technical theatre. These competencies are increasingly viewed as critical to sustaining Canada’s arts ecosystem, particularly as organizations face challenges related to succession planning and audience development.
“Seven of the twelve students we’ve worked with since 2024 are now pursuing post-secondary arts programs,” said Artistic Director Kate Hilliard. “Their passion was clear from the start, but helping them build confidence to pursue their dreams is what matters most.”
Both organizations say the partnership reflects a shared strategy to strengthen Orillia’s cultural sector while investing in future talent. By aligning a historic venue with youth-driven programming and professional mentorship, Arts Orillia and the Orillia Opera House aim to create long-term value for the community and local creative economy.
Arts Orillia said the collaboration will continue to evolve, with additional programming expected to further integrate education, performance and professional development—ensuring that the next generation of artists and arts workers has both the inspiration and the practical tools to succeed.
