Celebrating a 60th anniversary calls for something special.
As such, the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra (OSO) is marking its diamond jubilee with an in 琉璃神社, Vernon and Penticton, starting Oct. 18 at the
From an emerging star playing an ancient cello and the world premiere of a rare bass concerto, to a birthday bash featuring (OSYO) alumni, you鈥檝e got many great musical experiences to choose from, says OSO music director .
鈥淲hen we were programming this season we were looking for variety and diversity,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his season has that, but the main thrust is to shine a spotlight on our own musicians.鈥�
Here鈥檚 a taste of the 60th celebrations:
Young and old combine 鈥� Playing with the OSO for the first time, Bryan Cheng is featured for the called Legends, on Oct. 18 to 20. Not only will you be impressed with the 21 year old鈥檚 skill level, he鈥檒l perform Dvorak鈥檚 鈥淐ello Concerto in B Minor鈥� on a $14-million Stradivarius cello built in 1696! The second half of the opening program will feature the OSO鈥檚 new concert master, violinist Rachel Kristenson, in Rimsky-Korsakov鈥檚 鈥淪cheherazade.鈥�
Local flavours abound 鈥� The local musician spotlight continues with the Nov. 22 to 24 Masterworks show, Themes and Innovations. The program features principal bassist Meaghan Williams performing the world premiere of 鈥淧lacentia Bay: Summer of 1941,鈥� a double bass concerto composed especially for her and the orchestra by OSO bassist and composer Mark Haney. The history-inspired composition evokes Williams鈥� home province of Newfoundland, where a secret wartime meeting took place in 1941 between Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt.
Diamond anniversary marked in style 鈥� February鈥檚 anniversary show features Youth Orchestra alumni Jana Luksts (piano), Kira Shiner (oboe), Alicia Venables (violin) and Nicholas Denton-Protsak (cello), each making their mark on the wider musical world. The concert opens with a performance of 鈥淭hree Views of the Okanagan,鈥� composed by OSO bursary-winner Kolby Zinger-Harris, and winds up with OSYO musicians side by side with the professional orchestra on Tchaikovsky鈥檚 鈥�1812 Overture.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 celebrating our history by looking to our future,鈥� Thomson says.
Teaching in different ways 鈥� From middle school band clinics and student Master Classes, to Symphony Story Time for pre-schoolers and the OSO Symphony School Show, the orchestra takes its role in the seriously. As well, all six Masterworks Series performances feature pre-concert talks by Thomson with insights about the compositions and composers.
As a registered non-profit, the orchestra accepts donations over and above your concert patronage. To help keep orchestral music alive, visit or call 250-763-7544. For full-season or individual show tickets, visit . Follow what鈥檚 new with the symphony .
