Two dozen music students from 91原创 are taking part in a virtual concert over the lunch hour this Friday that will raising money and awareness for youth mental health.

The Apollo Initiative will unite more than 350 students and five conductors from across B.C. in a virtual free performance that will livestream on Youth Mental Health Day on May 7.

Leading that local charge is concertmaster and violinist Brooklyn Wood.

This Fort 91原创 teenager, 17, is the student representative for the LCMS orchestra, and in doing so will share her personal experiences with the Apollo project and on performing music during the pandemic 鈥� which, she explained, has been different for each of the participating orchestras.

鈥淔or many of us, music has been our only means of connecting with our friends during the pandemic, especially during lockdown, so we鈥檙e also speaking on the importance of music and the arts and raise awareness of youth mental health,鈥� said Wood, who is a Grade 11 student at 91原创 Fine Arts School.

鈥淎 lot of teens and youth are struggling with mental health right now,鈥� said Wood, who plays violin, piano, and composes music.

鈥淒uring our practices for Apollo, our conductors opened some really great discussions about mental health and ways to find local help if we鈥檙e struggling or have a friend that is. I hope that this project creates awareness and lets young people know that it鈥檚 good to find help if they, or someone they know is having a hard time.鈥�

The Apollo initiative began when youth orchestra conductors from around the province came together to create an opportunity for B.C.鈥檚 youth to share a large and exciting musical experience 鈥� despite current social and travel restrictions.

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Focusing on youth mental wellness was important to the conductors as well, explained LCMS鈥� senior orchestra conductor and senior programs coordinator Joel Stobbe.

The charity fundraiser was initiated as a response to COVID-19鈥檚 devastating impact on the mental wellness of BC鈥檚 youth, many of whom look to their participation in music as an important tool in their mental wellness strategy, he said.

Hundreds of students from the 91原创 Community Music School Orchestra, as well as Coquitlam Youth Orchestra, Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra, Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra, Surrey Youth Orchestra, and the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra rehearsed, performed, and recorded their own parts.

鈥淭he concert is pre-recorded and has been edited by Jordan Nobles himself. Each orchestra rehearsed and then recorded our parts, sometimes individually and sometimes as a small group, depending on the orchestra. We then submitted all of the videos (over 300) to Jordan and he has been editing and stitching them all together. It鈥檚 quite a big process,鈥� explained Wood, who鈥檚 also played violin for Apollo as a member of the Vancouver Youth Symphony orchestra.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been amazing to work with students from across the province and showcase just how much music can positively impact change,鈥� she added.

鈥淭he Apollo initiative brings our students together with other young musicians from all across the province for a cause the students care deeply about,鈥� Stobbe interjected, noting the local music school has provided virtual, in-person, and hybrid learning opportunities throughout the pandemic.

鈥淭he event is short, maybe under 10 minutes. It will stream the world premiere of Apollo at 12pm on Friday, May 7 but will be available for viewing on YouTube and Facebook all 6 of the orchestra鈥檚 websites afterwards. Donations will be accepted until the end of May,鈥� Wood said.

She鈥檚 been a student at the music school for 12 years, starting with violin, then taking up composing around age eight, and five years ago starting on the piano.

鈥淚 started preparatory violin group classes at LCMS with my dad, when I was 4, and then started private lessons. I am currently studying under Luiza Nelepcu,鈥� said Wood.

She will be performing Mozart鈥檚 5th Violin Concerto as soloist with the LCMS Senior Orchestra in LCMS Orchestras鈥� year-end virtual concert watch party.

She鈥檚 also had the school鈥檚 Rose Gellert String Quartet record my piece Celadon Waves, which won first senior prize in LCMS 2021 young composers鈥� competition. It will premiere sometime in June.

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鈥淭his has been an incredible opportunity to come together with so many orchestras to create beautiful music and raise awareness and money for youth mental health in B.C.,鈥� Wood said.

鈥淭his pandemic has been hard on everyone, and I know a lot of young people have struggled mentally throughout the past year,鈥� Wood said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been lucky that I had music to fall back on, especially during the lockdowns, as at least I was able to keep creating and moving forward, and it鈥檚 awesome to be able to come together with so many musicians (many of them I haven鈥檛 seen in over a year) for a big production that will raise money for a cause that I strongly believe in.鈥�

LCMS principal, Carolyn Granholm is 鈥渆xtremely proud鈥� of all of the students who have contributed to this 鈥渋mportant鈥� project.

鈥淔or many of our students, music has been their only outlet during the pandemic, giving them a way to connect and create with their peers. It has been a vital emotional support,鈥� Granholm added.

鈥淚t has been an inspirational experience, and a true testament to the power of music. We encourage everyone to join us for this special event on May 7 and to make a donation in support of youth mental health.鈥�

It鈥檚 free to watch on and on the . Donations are accepted for the during the event.

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