Submitted by the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre
Prepare for a delightful and engaging live performance when musicians from the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra bring their chamber series concert Reeds in the Wind to Revelstoke.
Kamloops Symphony’s principal oboist Marea Chernoff, clarinettist Sally Aria, and bassoonist Olivia Martin will entice the audience with their classical repertoire and storytelling.
“We really like to shy away from the classical musician snobbery label which is really prevalent. We know the audience loves being talked to. We are very much talkers,” said Chernoff. “We talk about our instruments what makes them unique, what makes them different as well as similar. We talk about the pieces.
“The audience isn’t just sitting there listening to music, they’re getting a sense of what it’s about before we play it.
Reeds in the Wind features pieces by 19th Century composer Henri Tomasi as well as contemporary composer Jenny Brandon. Chernoff said Brandon, who composes wind chamber music, is one of her favourite contemporary composers. Reeds in the Wind was originally performed in Kamloops just after Halloween, and Brandon’s Spider Suite seemed to be a perfect fit.
“She’s so amazing at depicting things in the music,” said Chernoff.
Chernoff said many of the titles in Brandon’s Spider Suite are featured in the performance. Titles such as Along Came a Spider, A Wicked Waltz, and the End of the Day employ evocative compositions that drive home the theme.
Kamloops Symphony Orchestra’ last presented a chamber trio featuring oboe, clarinet, and bassoon in 30 years. The trio were excited by the opportunity and chose music they liked, such as Brandon’s contemporary piece and Tomasi’s 19th Century focus.
“I like the way Tomasi looks backwards, he didn’t quite adopt the 20th Century tonality of his counterparts,” said Chernoff. “He wasn’t out there doing stuff other people were doing. He still wanted pretty melodies. He really hung on to the melodies.”
The Revelstoke Community Band will join the Kamloops Symphony Musicians on stage as part of the performance. This will be the second time the Revelstoke Community Band has joined a professional group on stage, last year they collaborated with the Foothills Brass Band with great success.
“It was great to see the camaraderie between all the musicians both on and off the stage last year, and we were inspired to do something similar this year,” said Miriam Manley, executive director of the Revelstoke Arts Council.
Manley, who often focuses on creating community collaborations with professional performers, said it’s a great opportunity for local musicians to play alongside professionals. The Kamloops Symphony musicians will conduct a workshop with the Revelstoke Community Band the evening before the performance.
Kamloops Symphony’s Reeds in the Wind will be performed at the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre on Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. The concert features the Revelstoke Community Band. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.revelstokeartscouncil.com.