VICTORIA SYMPHONY TO SET UP RESIDENCY IN POWELL RIVER

POWELL RIVER, BC - The Victoria Symphony, the Powell River Academy of Music and the Powell River Regional District Economic Development Society (PRREDS) announced a major new partnership Friday as part of an ambitious plan for community renewal.

The plans, unveiled at a ceremony in Powell River last Friday, call for the Victoria Symphony to play a major role in the International Orchestral School to be launched in June 2004. The collaboration will create the first school in Canada with a major professional orchestra in residence. Further details of the program will be announced over the next few months.

The orchestra will also perform at the opening of the biennial International Choral Festival, Kathaumixw. The third largest choral competition in the world, Kathaumixw attracts more than 1100 singers from around the globe for the week-long event. For 2004, the opening ceremonies will be broadcast and webcast live, for simultaneous viewing around the world.

Regarding the new initiative, Don James, Artistic Director of the Powell River Academy of Music, said: “Kathaumixw has already achieved a remarkable position in terms of global recognition. We know that the addition of a professional resident orchestra and the inauguration of the International Orchestral School will enhance the level of excitement in Powell River at festival time, and support the growing reputation of Powell River as a pre-eminent cultural destination.”

Michael Aze, General Manager of the Victoria Symphony, commented “Partnerships are the lifeblood of an orchestra: they stabilize and they synergize. I am particularly excited by the fact that this new collaboration in Powell River will be an extremely creative one”.

Mike Heron, Interim General Manager of the PRREDS said “This is a major initiative of the Economic Development Society. We can see that Powell River is making significant strides to overcome its historical economic dependency on one industry.”