ORILLIA, Ont. — A youth-focused concert initiative aimed at developing emerging musicians and strengthening the local cultural economy is returning to downtown Orillia this spring, as Arts Orillia and the Orillia Opera House prepare to host the next installment of the Forever Young Mentorship Concert.
Scheduled for March 5, 2026, at the Gordon Lightfoot Theatre, the event continues a series that organizers say is designed to connect young performers with established local acts while giving them practical experience producing and performing live shows.
Launched on May 15th, 2025, Forever Young began as Arts Orillia’s first-ever youth-driven mentorship concert – a powerful night of music, exchange between artists, and youth-driven performances.
The initiative reflects a broader push by local arts organizations to invest in youth programming as part of Orillia’s long-term cultural and economic development strategy. By pairing student performers with more experienced bands, the program offers mentorship in both artistic development and the business side of live performance.
The debut concert featured mentorship between local band Sleepy Jan and emerging high school musicians from Twin Lake Secondary School, including Lincoln Baragar, Journey Henderson-Herbert, and Liam Finney, along with band members Trey Morris and Christian Ouellette of Still Deciding.
This sold-out concert brought a unique experience to the city while lighting up one of Orillia’s most treasured buildings with an intergenerational audience. A night of – fresh art – new voices – great music – all while educating our next generation of artists on how to produce a successful show. It was just the beginning of an amazing partnership between Arts Orillia and the Orillia Opera House.
Organizers expanded the series with another show on Nov. 21, which opened up the theatre’s main stage to additional performers and included Canadian artist Taylor Knox.
The upcoming March concert represents the latest phase of that growth, with youth continuing to take leadership roles behind the scenes. This edition has been co-imagined with Interning Producer Liam Finney.
The lineup will feature emerging shoegaze group Hoperfilly alongside their mentoring act, indie rock band Domicile, as well as returning Forever Young alumni Sleepy Jan, Lincoln Baragar and Still Deciding.
Hoperfilly recently released their debut EP, entitled “Read It To Me”, along with an accompanying single. Their mentoring band, Domicile, have been pursuing a melancholic, mid-tempo, style of indie rock, well showcased in their newest single “Eating Poison”, though they have another single on the way soon.
For Arts Orillia, the mentorship model is central to its mandate of fostering creative talent while building sustainable opportunities in the region’s arts sector.
Arts Orillia is committed to uplifting youth and artists through powerful creative encounters that bring audiences together – and they are proud to be working with The City of Orillia and Orillia Opera House Manager, Emily Martin, to broaden the cultural landscape of our beautiful city.
The Forever Young series also reflects a growing recognition among municipalities that local arts programming contributes to economic vitality. Live music events bring audiences into downtown cores, support hospitality businesses, and help retain young creative talent who might otherwise leave smaller communities for larger urban centres.
The Gordon Lightfoot Theatre, located inside the historic opera house, has long been a cornerstone of Orillia’s cultural infrastructure. Programs like Forever Young help ensure that the venue remains relevant to new generations of performers and audiences.
Tickets for the March 5 concert are priced at $10 and will be available at the door, making the event accessible to students and community members alike.
With youth mentorship, live performance, and community engagement at its core, the Forever Young concert series is positioning itself as both a cultural incubator and a contributor to Orillia’s creative economy.
As the program enters its second year, organizers say its continued success demonstrates the demand for youth-focused arts initiatives — and the role they can play in shaping the future of Canada’s local music industry.