The Sidney Classical Orchestra is kicking off their 2012/13 concert series next week as well as the organization’s 20th year of performing.
Vancouver Island composer and conductor Stephen Brown will conduct the three concerts in the series.
“This will be an excellent year,” said Brown. “Our soloists are top notch with international careers. The music is our usual balance of a long serious classical piece balanced with shorter light classical music from the Baroque and Classical periods with an occasional post-1900 piece added. It should be three, very fine musical evenings.”
The series will be held Friday nights, with the first one on Nov. 9, at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Sidney (10030 Third St.) at 7:30 p.m.
The concert on Nov. 9 will feature piano soloist Michelle Mares, who has led an active performing career in both Canada and Europe, spanning the entire repertoire as a soloist and chamber musician.
Mares has performed with virtually every major orchestra in Canada as a soloist and during her time in Europe, she appeared with a number of orchestras including Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Basel Symphony Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Polish Chamber Orchestra and the Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra.
Tickets for the show on Nov. 9 (and subsequent ones) are available on the Peninsula through Tanner’s Bookstore, Russell Nursery and City Scribe in Brentwood Bay. They are also available at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, Long and McQuade in Victoria and Tom Lee Music in Langford. Season tickets for the three concerts are $50 for adults and $25 for students. Single-show tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students. For more, visit sidneyclassicalorchestra.ca or call 250-480-1133.