The Calgary Youth Orchestra is launching its tour of Germany in celebration of Richard Strauss.

UPDATE: You can tour along with them on their blog!

The CYO leaves Monday, Aug. 4 for a 10-day, four-concert tour with performances in Berlin, Leipzig, Augsburg and historic Jüterbog, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Richard Strauss.

The 65-member orchestra is one of Canada’s leading community youth orchestras. Members include Calgary and area junior and senior high school students and students of Mount Royal University and the University of Calgary.

During this year’s tour, Calgary oboist and composer Trevor Mansell, 18, will be having his European premiere, as the orchestra will be playing a movement of his “Divertimento for Orchestra.”

Cellist Mary Lena Bleile will be making her European premiere as a soloist playing the first movement of CPE Bach’s Cello Concerto in B flat.

We wish them luck!