The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) returns to Whistler for its third annual Canada Day concert.
Maestro Bramwell Tovey will conduct the two VSO concerts on July 1 and 2 at Whistler Olympic Plaza.
The Canada Day concert on Friday, July 1 features soloist Albert Seo on cello. The program includes Lehar's Gold and Silver Waltz, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and Variations on a Rococo Theme and Morawetz's Carnival Overture. The concert starts at 8:30 p.m.
The Saturday, July 2 concert features Wagner's Die Meistersinger: Overture, Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf — with narrative by Tovey — and Beethoven's Symphony No., Op 67, C minor.
As well, there are other classical concerts taking place over the week, thanks to the VSO's Orchestral Institute at Whistler (VSOIW).
The Whistler Institute Faculty Recital takes place on Thursday, June 30, at the Maury Young Arts Centre at 8 p.m.
On Canada Day, VSO student musicians, woodwind quintet and string quartet, will be performing at the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain. The show starts at 2:30 p.m. and is free to anyone with a valid Peak 2 Peak 360 ticket or season pass.
VSOIW Chamber Music Concerts include shows at Four Seasons Resort Après Market Brunch on Saturday, July 2, at 12 p.m.; the Maury Young Arts Centre (MYAC) on Sunday, July 3 at 3 p.m.; and MYAC on Monday, July 4, at 4:30 p.m.
VSOIW Town Plaza Gazebo Concerts: Sunday, July 3, at 12:30 p.m. and Tuesday, July 5 at 2 p.m.
And the Whistler Institute Orchestra Concert takes place on Tuesday, July 5, at Whistler Olympic Plaza at 7:30 p.m.
More Canada Day fun
Whistler will welcome Canada's 149th birthday with many events to celebrate.
It begins with a pancake breakfast at Florence Petersen Park at 9 a.m., followed by a parade at noon and a ceremony — and cake — at the Town Plaza Gazebo at 1:15 p.m.
The Westin Resort is hosting a new Canada Day carnival outside the hotel from noon, with bouncy castles and giant games.
And Pique's annual Pedal Parade for children is back. Wear your best red and white and decorate and ride in our parade. Sign in starts at the municipal hall parking lot at 10:30 a.m. and the parade will begin at noon.
There are prizes for the best decorations.
Arkells headline Whistler concert during Pemby Fest
The Pemberton Festival returns to Whistler Olympic Plaza for the third year with a special concert on Wednesday, July 13, starting at 5 p.m.
The kick-off party is headlined by Arkells at 8:45 p.m., with The Funk Hunters at 7 p.m., Givers at 6 p.m. and a local act to be announced soon on July 9.
The event is free and open to all.
The 2016 Pemberton Music Festival kicks off the following day, running from July 14 to 17.
$2-million endowment for Audain's chief curator position
A $2-million endowment has been established by Stephen and Gail Jarislowsky to support the chief curator position at Whistler's Audain Art Museum, it was announced on Thursday, June 23.
"The Jarislowskys have done so much to support arts and culture throughout Canada, so it is wonderful that they decided to endow this position which will allow us to pursue excellent curatorial programs at our Museum," said chairman Michael Audain in a press release.
"We are very grateful for this gift which brings the endowment fund over half way to our $25-million goal."
Darrin Martens' position at the Audain will now be known as the Gail and Stephen A. Jarislowsky Chief Curator. Martens has been at the Audain for about a year and previously was director and curator of the Burnaby Art Gallery and the Nisga'a Museum.
The Jarislowskys have endowed numerous university and cultural organization chairs in Canada.
Stephen Jarislowsky is founder, chairman, and CEO of the Montreal-based investment management firm Jarislowsky Fraser Limited, and is a Companion of the Order of Canada and a grand officer of the National Order of Quebec.
Author Susan Juby named WWF writer-in-residence
Susan Juby, the 2016 winner of Canada's Stephen Leacock Award for comedy writing, is moving to Whistler this fall as the community's official Writer-in-Residence.
The critically acclaimed best-selling author, celebrated for her Young Adult novels received the Stephen Leacock medal for her novel Republic of Dirt (2015).
Juby is also well known for her popular YA series starting with Alice, I Think (2000), which was named one of the essential 40 YA novels by Rolling Stone and adapted into a CTV/Comedy Network television series.
Her work has been published in many countries across the world and nominated for several awards, including the Amazon/Books in Canada First Novel Award and an Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America. Juby holds a Master of Publishing degree from Simon Fraser University and teaches creative writing at Vancouver Island University.
"The Whistler Writing Society is thrilled to have a writer at the caliber of Susan Juby's level join us for this year's Writer-in-Residence program as well as during the Whistler Writers Festival in October," said Stella Harvey, director of the Whistler Writers Festival, in a release.
The Writer-in-Residence program is a unique opportunity for writers to work with an experienced Canadian author. Participants receive four one-on-one sessions with the author as well as attend group lectures.
The Whistler Writers Festival takes place from Oct. 13 to 16. During the festival, Juby will lead a reading event entitled "The Places YA Fiction Dares to Go," as well as participate in the popular Literary Cabaret.
To participate in the Writer-in-Residence program, interested writers should email Harvey as soon as possible at stella25@telus.net.
Deep Summer Photo wildcard launch
Pinkbike has kicked off its search for the wildcard photographer for this year's Deep Summer Photo Challenge.
The chosen photographer will take part in three days of intense shooting and editing during Crankworx, commencing Aug. 13.
The five confirmed pro photographers for this year's event are Tommy Wilkinson, Simeon Patience, Baxter Redfern, Ashley Barker and Ben Hagger.
To enter and for more information visit www.pinkbike.com.
Arts Whistler School Awards
Arts Whistler has named its art award and bursary recipients for 2016.
This year's Grade 7 art award winners include Charlotte Kluftinger from Signal Hill Community School, Tristan Gosselin from Myrtle Philip Community School and Helen Kim from Spring Creek Community School.
The Grade 12 winners included Tazara Lopes and Carli Leppard from Whistler Secondary School, Tatiana Fogerty from Pemberton Secondary School, and Qyiyak Bikadi from Xit'olacw Community School.
Arts Whistler's Student Art Bursaries have been awarded to Tristan Easy-Triponez, Quinn Isert, Caley Clark and Roan Isert.
Wind festival volunteers
Volunteers are need for the 3rd annual Wind Festival, which takes place in downtown Squamish from July 21 to 24.
The annual festival combines music, art and water, with kids' crafts, the farmers market and the Squamish Yacht Club's annual regatta on Howe Sound, SOAR.
To volunteer and for other information visit www.squamishwindfestival.ca.
- with files by Lynn Mitges
