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No fall production this year from Vancouver Island Opera

Lack of volunteers puts company’s future in doubt: president
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The Vancouver Island Opera is having trouble getting volunteers, and that is putting the future of the company in jeopardy, according to the group’s president. — File

The Vancouver Island Opera’s fall production in Qualicum Beach won’t be taking place this year, according to VIO’s president, Hugh Sinnott.

The annual show usually takes place in October, and at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre.

However, after putting on13 fully-staged operas, Sinnott said in an email, “due to insufficient volunteers, Vancouver Island Opera will not be putting on a fall production this year.”

But the VIO’s volunteer woes don’t stop there, he wrote.

“As it becomes more challenging to find suitable volunteers, the future of the opera company, after 16 years, is in question and will be decided by the board at our next meeting later this year,” said Sinnott.

So far, he has not provided a specific date for when that decision will be made.

The VIO’s objective has been to promote the appreciation, study and performance of opera throughout the Island, and give opportunities for local talent to participate in operatic productions.

Over the years, the company has also put on a Parksville Recital Series at the MAC each spring.

The VIO’s 2016 fall production was The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart.

— NEWS Staff