I’ve just arrived home fresh from a concert with the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra (NCO). While I’m exhausted from the thrill of performing, I must write about the event to encourage everyone to attend this same program when it comes to Parksville this Sunday, Dec. 6.
The NCO string players represent a spectrum ages and abilities that include professionals, students and skilled amateurs. Their mentoring program and annual Concerto Competition provide vital learning experiences for talented young musicians.
The NCO is also a huge asset to the local arts community. This fall they played for Vancouver Island Opera’s production of Norma (a first for each). Two choral concerts I sang at this fall had some accompaniment by musicians from the NCO. We’ve never had such access to string accompaniment in our community before.
The Prelude to Christmas is a very accessible program featuring some lovely pastoral-themed music (including the Scarlatti solo cantata that I’ll be singing). By accessible I mean that you don’t have to be a scholarly classical music aficionado to enjoy this event: you just have to like listening to sweet, relaxing string music.
The program is light and festive without being crammed full of the monotonous seasonal music we hear over and over at this time of year. Sitting in the front row, the power of the strings filled me with a lovely sense of fullness and peace. Musical Director Karl Rainer offers some brief, informative program notes.
If you are free Sunday, come for some delightful music while supporting the NCO. We’ll be at St. Edmund’s Anglican at 2:30 p.m. Visit www.nanaimochamberorchestra.com for more.
Skye DonaldErrington