SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ACADEMY OF THE PACIFIC

Orchestral luminaries from around the world will convene in Powell River in the summer of 2004
Laura Walz
Peak Editor

A new academy for orchestral students has attracted a stellar roster of international instructors.

Don James, artistic director of the Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific (SOAP), says all the instructors are significant names in the world of orchestras. "Arthur Arnold has been busy recruiting for us," says James.
Having Powell River named a Cultural Capital of Canada for 2004 is a "very big thing," says Arnold, SOAP's music director and conductor. "All of these people are very pleased."

Arnold studied conducting with Anton Kersjes in the Netherlands and has been assistant conductor of Hans Vonk. In 1997 he became principal guest conductor of the Chopin Symphony Orchestra in Warsaw. He conducted the Seoul National Symphony Orchestra in 1999 and was appointed to be their principal guest conductor.

In 2001 Arnold made his debut in the Concertgebouw Amsterdam with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra and soloists from the Boshoi Theatre. Arnold and the orchestra were invited back to the Concertgebouw in 2002 and 2003. Meanwhile he works with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra regularly and has concerts in the famous Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory.

Arnold has attracted master performers, music educators and professionals from around the world. They include: Alexander Kalashkov, concertmaster of the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra; David Halen, concertmaster of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra; Evan Wilson, principal viola of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra; Godfried Hoogeveen, principal cellist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; Ilya Finkelshteyn, principal cello of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Michael Faust, principal flute with the WDR Sinfonieorchester Cologne; and Charles Ullery, principal bassoon with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

"These are really big names in the instrumental world," explains James. "They should draw the best of the best from around the world to come and study here."

The number of instructors will depend on the number of students the academy attracts. James says the orchestra academy would need 18 faculty if we had an enrollment of 80 to 90 students. "Our next job will be to hire additional instructors from the Vancouver Symphony and the Victoria Symphony."

Finding a position with an orchestra is difficult as there are many good players. Sometimes 200 finalists will compete for one vacant spot, says Arnold. When trying out for a position, musicians sit alone, behind a screen, with 30 to 40 people listening. They must play excerpts from orchestral pieces, such as the beginning of Beethoven's Heroica Symphony. "This is a very difficult thing. Usually it's underestimated because musicians work so hard on their solo concertos."

The orchestra academy will teach students how to learn to be an orchestra player, how to prepare for an audition, how it feels to play in an orchestra. "They'll get experience playing in an orchestra."

Being able to study with well-known first players from the best orchestras in the world will be invaluable experience. "It gives them an unique chance to develop as musicians."

The academy has had tremendous co-operation in terms of ideas and music programming from the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, which has a summer residency in Powell River in 2004. "Now all we need are the students to come," says James. "We are about to begin a major recruitment drive. A significant aspect of this is that our faculty have all agreed to assist in recruitment and some have already indicated they will be bringing many of their own students."

The orchestra academy is the first of its kind in Canada, James adds. "We hope it will be a huge success, both for cultural and economic reasons. If our first year is a success, the orchestra academy will be a long-term venture and will bring about $2.1 million into Powell River over the next five years alone."
Arnold wants to design the academy so students have the support and freedom to develop. Many of the instructors share the same philosophy, he says. "Not only do you need teachers who are good musicians, but you need people who are able to inspire. It's all about inspiration."

The orchestra academy has launched its new website, www.soap-powellriver.ca.

A joint project between Robert Dufour of Works Consulting and David Molyneaux, a Powell River artist, the website is visually stunning as well as comprehensive. "It's a quite an impressive job that they've done," says James.
Dufour says both he and Molyneaux were happy to work on the website. "It was an extremely involved project," he says. "In the end we're very happy with the results. What's even more important is the people that we did it for are happy and impressed with the results. At the end of the day, nothing else matters."

The orchestra academy begins next June. There will be numerous concerts and performances for the public to enjoy during the two weeks that it is in session, June 21 to July 3.