With Natalie Choquette’s exhilarating, moving, and at times even hilarious performance of world famous aria’s, our Symphony of the Kootenays enters the new 2011-2012 season this 29th of October.

Conductor and Music Director Bruce Dunn will arrive at the Key City Theatre on the Friday to perform the final rehearsals with the27 musicians from all over the Kootenays and beyond. Membership holders and subscribers, together with several guests, will enjoy an entertaining Wine and Cheese reception starting at 6PM, in which they will be welcome by the new president of the Symphony Board Mr. Hans Dekkers.

Hans finds it an unexpected honour to work together with Bruce Dunn, Amanda Ball (General Manager), and colleagues of the board. He was asked following his impresario initiative to bring Florida virtuoso Koreen Kawalec to Cranbrook in April to perform the First Piano Concerto of Chopin. Hans: “We should consider ourselves very privileged to have our own Symphony of the Kootenays. The quality of our cultural expressions speaks books of who we are here in the Kootenays. We have a rich presence of all sorts of cultural expressions, and this – I believe – forms an instrumental part in raising the attractiveness of our region.” Hans looks forward to working together with the different arts organizations in the area, and to try to bring all these expressions of art together. One day maybe even under a single roof in a cultural centre.

One of the first initiatives of the Symphony this season has been the formation of a brand new Symphony Youth Chamber Orchestra. Under the assistance of Nadia Logist (violin) of the Ideal Ranch arts community in Jaffrey, five young musicians are preparing very hard for their first live performance in December. Hans: “The Youth Chamber Orchestra is really one of those initiatives which truly deliver value on all sides. It gives us, as a Symphony, the opportunity to give back to the Community. The Youth Chamber concerts will be free of charge, and be held in public venues. It is the Symphony saying to our fellow citizens: Thank You and we love to share all beauty here in The Kootenays. On the other side, it creates a terrific opportunity for young musicians to grow in their performance skills. The Youth Chamber Orchestra currently consists of Heidi Anderson (violin), Jaime Dekkers (violin), Robin Anderson (violin), Zach Smith (cello), and Katie Anderson (violin). Hans is quick to point out that not all these Anderson ladies are actually related. Only two are sisters.

This season brings Natalie Choquette to town on Saturday October 29. December 3 and 4 will celebrate the traditional and enthusiastically received Christmas in the Kootenays concert. February 25th will feature Joe Trio a heartwarming blend of humour and talent. April 21 and 22 (Nelson and Cranbrook respectively) will inspire our region with Koreen Kawalec’s performance of Chopin’s First Piano Concerto. The season closes with a free open-air concert at St. Eugene Mission, entitled “Music in the Mountains”.

The Symphony offers both memberships and season subscriptions. For information, call 250-489-4932.  Tickets for the upcoming concert can be purchased at the ticket office of the Key City Theatre in Cranbrook.

Symphony of the Kootenays

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