Skip to content

Young soloists perform with Sidney orchestra

Sidney Classical Orchestra hosts Young Soloists Concert on June 21

A classical music concert this Friday night in Sidney is giving young musicians from Vancouver Island the chance to perform with a large orchestra.

Stephen Brown, artistic director and conductor of the Sidney Classical Orchestra, says their second annual Young Soloists Concert on June 21 offers budding musicians unique experience at an early age.

“Its purpose is to give young musicians the chance to play classic works with a larger orchestra,” Brown said. “This gives them the opportunity to experience what it’s like.”

This year, there are nine young soloists who will be performing for up to 20 minutes each. They are: Sandra Zhou - Piano, Emma Hanna - Soprano, Jenessa Johnston - Flute, Jacob van der Sloot - Viola, Bronwyn Kure - Viola, Rae Gallimore - Viola, Leo Yong - Clarinet, Eric Manning - Piano, Gillian Harper - Patterns for String Orchestra, Premiere.

The Young Soloists Concert is in its second year for the local orchestra. Brown said it first began in 1997-’98 but was put on hiatus after arts grants dried up at the time. It started up again last year and is open to any Island musician, age 22 or under. This year’s show, Brown continued, features young musicians mostly from the Greater Victoria area. They are expected to know the pieces they plan on performing and there are two rehearsals planned before the big finale on Friday night. Brown said the musicians then show off what they have achieved through years of study and practice.

The Young Soloists Concert starts at 7:30 p.m. at St. Elizabeth’s Church (10030 Third St., Sidney.) Tickets can be found at Tanner’s Books, Russell Nursery or City Scribe.

Visit www.sidneyclassicalorchestra.ca for more information.