Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra: Innovating the Community Orchestra

When the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1980, its members could hardly have imagined what the organization would evolve into 45 years later. Under the leadership of Ronald Royer, who took over as music director in 2009, the SPO has embraced change and challenge alike, transforming itself into a truly modern organization.

Royer’s attachment to the orchestra is personal: prior to his appointment as music director, he was the group’s composer-in-residence. His wife, clarinetist Kaye Royer, has played with the SPO for more than 30 years. It therefore comes as no surprise that Ronald Royer’s decision to assume a leadership role within the organization was guided by a desire to help see the orchestra grow, and continue to provide essential cultural services to the Scarborough community.

While the SPO’s traditional orchestral season has remained intact, the group has expanded its activities to include a professional chamber-music concert series, the production of several commercial recordings, two composer development programs, and an international musical exchange initiative.

Ronald Royer. Photo: Dahlia Katz

Expanding their Reach

The SPO began producing recordings eight years ago. The first was an album of chamber works, performed by their ensemble-in-residence: the Odin Quartet. The orchestra kicked off 2025 with their 10^th commercial release, a collaborative album titled Songs of Hope.

Featuring mezzo-soprano Danielle MacMillan, soprano Maghan McPhee, the Odin Quartet, and musicians of the SPO, the project was born out of a simple question. “How can we, as artists, make a difference?” asked Royer and his colleagues. Their response was to come together—alongside composers Shreya Jha, Elienna Wang, Ted Runcie, Leela Gilday, Daniel Mehdizadeh, Rachel McFarlane and Bruno Degazio—to compose and record a song cycle on the theme of “through adversity, hope.” The SPO already has multiple other recording projects on the horizon, with their next album set to release in May of this year.

Releasing recordings of this calibre has provided the SPO with “a whole new level of exposure and support that we had never gotten before,” says Royer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the orchestra started producing music videos, which they released on YouTube. The organization has chosen not to put this content behind a paywall, notes Royer. “We want to reach as wide an audience as possible; it is important to us to keep our videos free and accessible to all.” This endeavour, much like their albums, has bolstered the group’s international reputation. These projects have “opened up very unexpected doors,” says Royer, leading to opportunities such as the group’s recent collaboration with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the SPO’s receipt of the Canadian Music Centre’s John Beckwith Award.

Royer, who is originally from California, has also used the orchestra’s platform to strengthen relationships between Canadian and American musical organizations. This year marks the inauguration of a collaboration between the SPO, the American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC), the National Association of Composers USA (Los Angeles Chapter), the Canadian Music Centre (CMC), and the Screen Composers Guild of Canada (SCGC). This project will see a series of free public chamber-music concerts presented in both the Greater Toronto and Los Angeles areas.

Beyond more standard classical repertoire, these presentations will feature film music, a genre which has been a part of the SPO’s catalogue for many years. “These concerts will highlight more established contemporary composers,” says Royer, adding: “The goal is to develop relationships between American and Canadian musicians.” These partnerships are important to maintain, he says, given how frequently film and television projects have musicians in both countries working on projects together.

Ronald Royer conducting. Photo: Dahlia Katz

The Next Generation Composer Program

The SPO aims to serve Canada’s musical community in more ways than one. For eight years, the orchestra has run what they call their New Generation Composer Program, which aims to mentor, train, and highlight emerging professional composers.

“There are so many talented composers in Canada,” says Royer, “but we noticed that there was a need for organizations to support these composers, for more opportunities.” Beyond assisting with the creation of new works, and providing this repertoire with a platform, Royer believes it is important to “teach young composers the importance of collaboration.” This is a crucial part of developing and sustaining a career, he says. “Over the years, we have developed a community of composers, who work collaboratively with each other and the orchestra.”

East Meets West

Several members of the SPO’s “community of composers” will be featured on their upcoming concert, East Meets West. The concert is part of a series of performances that have featured the SPO Women’s Choir led by Chinese Canadian conductor, soprano and SPO member Yiping Chao. The choir and orchestra will perform traditional Chinese art songs, arranged for the orchestra by Chao’s husband and son. Also on the program are works by Elizabeth Raum, Chris Meyer and SPO Composer-in-Residence Ted Runcie. This mix of Chinese, Caribbean and Canadian music will result in “a concert that reflects the SPO’s community.”

SPO Women’s Chorus.

The Power of Respect and Collaboration

Beyond their wide range of musical activities and busy concert season, it is the SPO’s bigger mission that makes them special, and has made their growth possible. “It is important to us that people feel a part of the organization—that they come into the community in the spirit of respect and collaboration.” Royer believes the SPO has “evolved into something pretty different” than the traditional community orchestra, all thanks to the way they have prioritized open-minded and open-hearted musical exploration.