The Sooke Philharmonic is celebrating 20 years of making music this year, and founder Norman Nelson hopes this is only the beginning for the orchestra.
After working as a professor of violin and chamber music at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Nelson came to Sooke to live a simpler life. After a while, he was approached by a group of people to put together an orchestra.
Nelson founded the orchestra in 1997 and led a group of 14 musicians through their first symphony concert in June 1998.
B次元官网网址淚 remember our first performance well. We played the first Beethoven symphony and we were lucky to get through it,B次元官网网址� laughed Nelson. B次元官网网址淣ow 20 years later and weB次元官网网址檙e still having fun.B次元官网网址�
Nelson said over the years the orchestra has gotten bigger and better, and he canB次元官网网址檛 wait to see what the future holds.
Now, the orchestra has more than 60 members, and 12 of the original 14 musicians still perform with it today.
Nelson has played with professional musicians in orchestras in London many times, but said he prefers to work with amateur musicians like he does in Sooke because of their music, enthusiasm and lack of politics.
B次元官网网址淎mateur musicians are what keep us all going. They love playing music, thatB次元官网网址檚 all there is to it,B次元官网网址� he said.
Nelson added he enjoys working with the Sooke Philharmonic because all of the members are very nice and comfortable people.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e like a huge family. We get along well, and the music binds us all together.B次元官网网址�
No one has ever had to audition for the orchestra, Nelson said people just come and join in and play what they can.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why we call it the Sooke Philharmonic instead of a symphony B次元官网网址� for the love of music. You can buy a symphony like you can a football team, but a philharmonic society is just a bunch of people who love to play music and hear music played,B次元官网网址� said Nelson.
And even if you donB次元官网网址檛 play an instrument, there is room in the society for everyone.
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The society is also made up of a multitude of volunteers that work tirelessly for the music they love to hear, which Nelson attributes a lot of the philharmonicB次元官网网址檚 success.
B次元官网网址淪peaking honestly, we would not exists without our volunteers,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey help out in so many ways, you couldnB次元官网网址檛 possibly numerate.B次元官网网址�
A great example of a volunteer is Bob Whittet, who has been on the board and helping out with the society for 11 years.
B次元官网网址淚 have an interest in music. I sing and play myself, so to see something this rich happening in Sooke, it was a no-brainer that I should help support it and put effort in to making sure it survives,B次元官网网址� said Whittet.
He added that the orchestra provides a wonderful opportunity for people to hear music that is classical literature, and for musicians to perform in front of an audience.
B次元官网网址淭hey perform at a high level and are going to be doing a beautiful job at this upcoming concert,B次元官网网址� he said.
The Philharmonic Chorus will be presenting its annual Christmas concert on Dec. 3 in Royal Roads UniversityB次元官网网址檚 quarterdeck ballroom, 2005 Sooke Rd., beginning at 2:30 pm.
This yearB次元官网网址檚 performance is called A Continental Christmas and will include renditions of VivaldiB次元官网网址檚 Gloria, CharpentierB次元官网网址檚 Messe de Minuit pour N枚el as well as traditional French carols.
The concert will also feature guest soloist singers Jennifer Turner, soprano, and Kathryn Whitney, mezzo-soprano, John Doughty, tenor, and Louis Dillon, bass, who will sing during the Vivaldi and the Charpentier.
Tickets can be bought at the door and cost $25 for general admission and $20 for students and seniors. For more information on the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra, please go online to .
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