As the end of term approaches, we follow in the footsteps of many classrooms by having a movie day. I this case it is That Higher Level, John Bolton’s feature documentary about the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYOC).

The first half of the film focuses on the NYOC’s training facility at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario.

The second half features concert segments shot at Ottawa’s Southam Hall at the National Arts Centre, Montreal’s Maison Symphonique, Charlottetown’s Confederation Centre of the Arts, Whitehorse’s Yukon Arts Centre and Vancouver’s Chan Centre.

The form of the film is inspired by the structure of Richard Strauss’ tone poem Death and Transfiguration.

Acclaimed for his eclectic, emotionally rich and intellectually rigorous body of work, John Bolton is an award-winning filmmaker from Vancouver, Canada, with a keen interest in collaborating with and adapting the works of authors, musicians and other artists.