For Art's Sake
By Jessica Colasanto
June is one of those perfect months in Powell River. The weather is great, the landscape is in full bloom, the magic of summer is beginning--and then there's the music.
Choirs in Concert happens on June 2 at the Evergreen Theatre. It brings us all of the Academy Choirs as they wrap up another year of hard work (they'll be back for Kathaumixw of course.) The concert begins at 7:30 pm; tickets are $10, free for 18 and under.
Ceilish, the fabulous Trad Band led by Cathy Reckenberg, serves up a night of Celtic Swing on June 19, 7 pm at the Academy Hall. They're "goin' tae Scotland," so this concert is a fundraiser, complete with refreshments, a silent auction, special guests and surprises--tickets are only $5.
The Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific, now in its eighth year, kicks off on June 22 and runs into July. If you aren't familiar with this event, treat yourself to one of the earlier concerts so that you'll be able to attend more once you're hooked. Not only does Powell River swell with top-calibre orchestral students, stopping here on their way to securing positions in string ensembles, chamber groups and symphonies around the world, but we also become a temporary home to a faculty of professional musicians who present two chamber music concerts. Imagine hearing duets performed by the Principal Viola and Principal Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, or the Principle Bassoon of Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra and Assistant Principle Flute of the New York City Opera, on stage at our Evergreen Theatre. The entire faculty is an impressive roster, and its collective talent will be showcased on Friday, June 25 and Thursday, July 1, both at 7:30 pm.
A violin concerto competition is held on June 22, with the finals on June 23, during which students will perform Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major, Opus 35; the winner will perform with the full orchestra at the final concert on July 2.
The first full orchestra concert is on June 26. The afternoon begins with a 1:30 pm performance; the Balfe/Somers Wealth Management Team sponsors buses to bring SOAP fans from the Comox Valley for this one, so you may notice a river of ferry walk-ons--some five hundred of them--making their way to the Evergreen and back that day. But don't worry if it sells out; the same performance is repeated at 7:30 pm. Both feature Sarah Hagen on piano (some of you will remember her beautiful performance here last year with soprano Megan Skidmore; others will recognize her as the talented piano adjudicator at the Festival of the Performing arts.)
The Symphony Orchestra of the Pacific is conducted by Arthur Arnold of the Netherlands, who sculpts the sound with such energy and passion the audience is transported to the global stage, a testament to his international conducting career.
For more information, including times of the distinctive Harp and Percussion recitals, visit soap-powellriver.ca or phone the Academy of Music at 604 485-9633.
