VSO Leadership Through Music Open Rehearsals 

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra invites you to explore the powerful connection between leadership and teamwork through the unique lens of music performance. Leadership in Music offers business leaders, organizations, companies and teams an exclusive opportunity to discover how the principles of orchestral performance — vision, communication, trust — translate into workplace success. Witness the orchestra in an open rehearsal, engage in insightful presentations, and participate in a workshop that highlights how these lessons can drive innovation, foster collaboration, and achieve excellence across industries. 

Who Is This For?

Designed for business and corporate leaders and teams, Leadership Through Music is a unique professional development experience that uses the live symphony orchestra as a model for leadership, communication, and collaboration.

Perfect for:

  • Executive Leadership Teams looking to strengthen alignment and elevate leadership skills.  
  • Managers and Mid-Level Leaders seeking to improve collaboration and communication.
  • Cross-Functional Teams aiming to break down silos and build trust.
  • Industries such as Tech, Biotech, Healthcare, and Law Firms navigating complex, high-pressure environments.

How It Works

  • Live Symphony Orchestra Experience — Observe and interact with the orchestra as they demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and communication in real time. You will hear directly from the musicians about their roles, observe them playing in rehearsal as they work toward a shared goal, and even experience their perspective with a unique opportunity to sit on stage.
  • Expert Facilitation & Reflection — Leadership expert guides your team through applying the lessons to real business contexts.
  • Fast & Effective Format – A power-packed 3-hour experience designed for maximum impact.

Schedule for the day:

  • Welcome & pre-rehearsal introductions with a VSO musician  
  • Open Rehearsal observation and limited onstage experience  
  • Q&A and post-rehearsal reflections with VSO musician or conductor  
  • Orchestrating Excellence Workshop: Leadership Lessons from the Stage (Leadership Consultant: Meghan St Jean/ Folk Fyrst Consulting) 

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Generate ideas on how to foster teamwork and/or performance excellence
  • Apply lessons in communication – improve listening and feedback
  • Develop a renewed perspective on leadership, collaboration, and the role of the individual in achieving collective success

Package Price & Details

10–25 participants: $5,000 

26–50 participants: $7,000 

Limited number of single tickets available for $200 

Each event lasts approximately 3 hours from start to finish. 

Contact us at education@vancouversymphony.ca for more information and provide your team with an extraordinary professional development experience! 

Workshop Facilitator

Meghan St Jean

Meghan St Jean is a Leadership Consultant with 15 years of experience in leadership development and a strong educational background in Marketing, Human Resources, and Adult Education from the University of Victoria. Known for her engaging and high-energy facilitation style, she delivers workshops that are dynamic, interactive, and packed with practical takeaways. Passionate about empowering leaders, she equips participants with the tools and strategies needed to inspire high-performing teams and drive meaningful results.

Available Dates

Thursday, Mar 20 at 2:30pm

Dvořák’s New World Symphony

This is a regular professional rehearsal. Please note that the rehearsal plans are decided by the conductor and might include one or all listed pieces.

Inspired by the open landscapes of North America, experience Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, universally praised for its lush melodies and epic beauty. Mezzo-soprano Marion Newman joins the orchestra in the world premiere of Vancouver composer Marcus Goddard’s celebration of our natural world, Mountain Visions. VSO Concertmaster Nicholas Wright dazzles in Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy.

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Otto Tausk

Thursday, Apr 10 at 9:30am

Rachmaninoff’s Third Symphony

This is a regular professional rehearsal. Please note that the rehearsal plans are decided by the conductor and might include one or all listed pieces.

Treasured for its romantic melodies and sonorous colours, Rachmaninoff’s Third Symphony remains an audience favourite worldwide. British pianist Sir Stephen Hough teams up with conductor Stanislav Kochanovsky in Grieg’s Piano Concerto, an instant success known for its thunderous opening and sublime, dynamic finale. Ravel’s impressionistic Une barque sur l’ocean reflects a ship adrift in the vastness of the ocean.

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Thursday, May 15 at 9:30am

Geneva Lewis Plays Mozart

This is a regular professional rehearsal. Please note that the rehearsal plans are decided by the conductor and might include one or all listed pieces.

Hailed as “clearly one to watch” by Musical America, Violinist Geneva Lewis dazzles with Mozart’s charming Third Violin Concerto in her VSO debut. Conductor Giordano Bellincampi, also in his debut, leads the orchestra in Brahms’ lively Academic Festival Overture, inspired by student drinking songs, paired with Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony.

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