Age is but a number when it comes to classical music.
The Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra, for example, features musicians ranging in age from 14 to 23.
“The principal main seat for each section are often professionals in their 20s,” says conductor Ian Parker. “But you often hear or see a 14-year-old come along and play more virtuosically than anyone else in town. That happens too ... I spent eight years of my life at Juilliard and there were violin students who could play circles around their teachers. That’s the excitement of working with talent.”
A group of around 20 orchestra musicians— largely strings—will be travelling to Whistler to perform as the smaller Vancouver Academy of Music Chamber Orchestra on Sunday, Dec. 4. The show is part of the Whistler Chamber Music Society’s series.
The concert will feature seasonal selections like Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” and “The Nutcracker Suite” (the latter featuring violinist Caitlin Wong), as well as a few other selections.
“It’s a beautiful program that encompasses a bit of that holiday spirit, but also features the meat-and-potatoes of baroque music,” Parker adds.
While well-known pieces like these might serve as an entry point for newcomers to classical music, Parker—also an experienced pianist who has performed with many top Canadian and American orchestras—says people are usually surprised by how much they enjoy any classical music concert.
“Every time I’ve ever brought a first- timer, they always say they enjoy it eons more than they thought they would. But of course it’s helpful. These are the classical tunes that have been featured in so many films and commercials. If people can come to that nodding their heads because they recognize the tunes, [that helps],” he adds.
Conversely, the orchestra had a chance to delve more deeply into the music of Beethoven during the pandemic—all nine of his symphonies, to be more specific.
After having to nix a tour across China in July 2020, they instead booked Vancouver’s Orpheum Theatre for two years and recorded those selections, as well as four Brahms symphonies.
“Those are truly the bibles of classical orchestral music,” Parker says. “We went on this project of recording all of them in an empty hall. We had all of us significantly separated on stage. All the wind players were playing inside plastic curtains. Everyone was masked. We expanded the stage 360 degrees ... It was so rewarding to be enriched with that repertoire.”
While those years were surprisingly productive, the orchestra is looking forward to its upcoming Whistler debut, which will kick off a series of December performances, including a concert at the Orpheum Theatre on Dec. 11 and the Kay Meek Arts Centre in West Vancouver on Dec. 18.
“It’s a very connective program in the sense that there will be a little bit of introduction from the stage,” Parker says. “It’s very much not a bunch of musicians onstage, we play, we leave. We’re reaching out to our audience.”
Catch the Vancouver Academy of Music Chamber Orchestra: The Four Seasons and The Nutcracker on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church.
Tickets are $25 for adults or $20 for youth under 20. Get them at whistlerchambermusic.ca or at the door.
