The Sidney Classical Orchestra will present its annual Young Soloists Concert, this year with their largest number yet — 10 soloists.
“Kids just don’t get this sort of opportunity elsewhere,” said Stephen Brown, the orchestra’s conductor.
Auditions are held in January for selecting the best young soloists, ages eight to 22.
Brown said he knows a lot of the musicians from being from the Victoria Conservatory of Music. This year, three of them are returning soloists, but the opportunity is open to everybody on the Island.
Conductor Esther-Ruth Teel will be present for the first time, conducting Dvorak’s Serenade for Strings in E major.
The soloists include Johnathan Devey playing a Bach Piano Concerto, Composer Leslie Opatril will have her Caldera performed, Felipe Jiang playing a piano concerto by Mozart, Rebecca Reader-Lee on violin for a Henri Wieniawski piece, Bonnie Lu playing a Mozart Piano Concerto, Karen Chan playing a Chopin Piano Concerto, Esther-Ruth Teel conducting Serenade for Strings in E Major by Dvorak, Lexie Krakowski playing a Haydn Cello Concerto and Emma Reader-Lee and Danielle Tsao playing a Mozart duet piece on violin and viola.
Brown said the soloist concert gives young musicians an opportunity to perform with a professional orchestra.
“It really is special to see these young people.
“They’re so excited and we try to make the experience as positive as possible,” he said.
He said playing with the orchestra turns them around, and they begin practicing even more after playing a concerto.
The concert, he said, isn’t all about the soloists. He said they also accept submissions if somebody has a new composition like Opatril, who composed Caldera (Calmly Flowing and Iridescent).
The concert will take place March 12 beginning at 2:30 p.m. at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church. Tickets are available at Tanners Books, Brentwood Bay’s CityScribe, Long and McQuade in Victoria and at the door.