The Victoria Symphony rolls out the red carpet for A Night at the Oscars

January 11, 2010 Victoria, BC ’Äì On January 14, 15 & 16, Regina Symphony Orchestra’Äôs Music Director Victor Sawa conducts Oscar-winning music with the Victoria Symphony at the Royal Theatre.  Symphony goers will walk the red carpet as they make their way into the theatre for a glamorous evening of music from movies such as Lawrence of Arabia, Psycho, The Way We Where and Jaws. A Night at the Oscars, led by Regina Symphony Orchestra’Äôs Music Director Victor Sawa, was first introduced into the Victoria Symphony Pops series in 2008. Brought back by popular demand, this year’Äôs programme features music filled with action, adventure and a little bit of romance.  From early scores, 1938’Äôs The Adventures of Robin Hood, to major blockbuster hits, 2008’Äôs Dark Knight, this concert will entertain all audiences.  Full concert programme is available at www.victoriasymphony.ca.  ’ÄúThese concerts are not only full of great music but also a lot of fun. We hope that the audience gets into the glamour of the evening by dressing the part, strutting on the red carpet and smiling for the cameras as they head into the Royal Theatre for an exciting live performance of award-winning music’Äù states Bethany Wilson, Director of Marketing and Development. Maestro Victor Sawa, Music Director of the Regina Symphony Orchestra, is known for his impressive reputation, engaging audience interaction and passion for bringing new faces to classical and pops performances.  Sawa has made several guest appearances all over the world and won countless awards, including the Queen's Jubilee Medal and a Grammy. The Victoria Symphony is Vancouver Island’Äôs largest and most active arts organization performing for more than 125,000 people each year, including 10,000 schoolchildren. Showcasing the outstanding talents of its musicians and guest artists, the Victoria Symphony’Äôs 2009-2010 season offers a diverse and exciting line-up of over 50 concerts led by its vibrant Music Director Tania Miller. The Victoria Symphony wishes to acknowledge the generous support of series sponsor Beltone Better Hearing Centre. For complete programming details of the 2009-2010 season please visit www.victoriasymphony.ca. A Night at the Oscars January 14, 2:00 pm January 15 & 16, 8:00 pm Royal Theatre $30.50, $39.50, $50.50 $20.10 (web special), $12.00 (vsSoundcheck)

Victoria Symphony kicks off the New Year with an extravaganza of music, song and dance.

Victoria, BC ’Äì On January 1, at the Royal Theatre, the Victoria Symphony presents A Viennese New Year’Äôs with Maestro Brian Jackson, Ballet Victoria and guest soloists. This new production is inspired by the worldwide Viennese tradition of lively and nostalgic melodies and beautiful waltzes.

Every year over 1 billion people worldwide enjoy the televised version of this extremely popular annual New Year’Äôs Day concert performed by the Vienna Philharmonics Orchestra. In this grand tradition, the Victoria Symphony presents a live production of this beloved tradition inspired by Johan Strauss and the beautiful city of Vienna. Conducted by Maestro Brian Jackson, this extravaganza of music, song and dance includes the universally popular and beloved On the Beautiful Blue Danube, the favourite ’ÄúChez Maxim’Äôs’Äù from The Merry Widow and the colourful Champagne Polka with performances by Mark DuBois, Melanie Krueger and Ballet Victoria.

Brian Jackson, Principal Pops Conductor of the Victoria Symphony since 1994, has performed all the major symphonic and choral literature as well as being recognized as a champion of Canadian composers. Since becoming the youngest Music Director in Canada (Peterborough Symphony) at age 25, Jackson has conducted all the major Canadian orchestras and has led orchestras in the UK, Europe, US and S. America.

Mark DuBois, tenor, is universally acclaimed for his outstanding lyric tenor voice and his artistry and musicianship in performance. Mr. DuBois is featured on several commercial recordings and television specials, the most recent of which is a Juno-nominated recording Chansons D’Äôamore with pianist Gloria Saarinen.

Melanie Krueger, soprano, made her professional operatic debut in the Czech premiere of Robert Ward’Äôs The Crucible. This past season she toured with the Prague Chamber Opera’Äôs production of Xerxes, singing the role of Atalanta in theatres all around Germany.

Ballet Victoria came together in 2002 and during the fall of 2007 Ballet Victoria welcomed Paul Destrooper as artistic director. In addition to creativity, vision, and a renewed sense of enthusiasm, Destrooper brought two decades of experience as a successful international dancer and choreographer on the world stage.

The Victoria Symphony is Vancouver Island’Äôs largest and most active arts organization performing for more than 125,000 people each year, including 10,000 schoolchildren. Showcasing the outstanding talents of its musicians and guest artists, the Victoria Symphony’Äôs 2009-2010 season offers a diverse and exciting line-up of over 50 concerts led by its vibrant Music Director Tania Miller.

The Victoria Symphony Box Office will be closed December 23 to January 3.

To purchase tickets, please contact the Royal Theatre Box Office.

A Viennese New Year’Äôs

January 1 at 2:30pm, Royal Theatre

250.386.6121

Tickets starting $30 to $75.

www.victoriasymphony.ca

Tania Miller signs with Victoria Symphony for another 3 years

Victoria, BC ’Äì Music Director Tania Miller has renewed her contract with the Victoria Symphony for another three years. Beginning immediately this contract will extend to 2013 bringing her to a total of 10 years as Music Director of Vancouver Island’Äôs largest performing arts organization.

Maestra Miller has been the Music Director of the Victoria Symphony since 2003, and has been instrumental in raising the bar of the Orchestra. She has initiated many new programs with the Victoria Symphony in the last seven years. Highlights of the past seasons include the Beethoven Festival, three Mozart Festivals, the New Currents Festival of new music, and the Odyssey Series and Royal Tea Series. Education initiatives include: the Young Musicians Concerto Showcase concerts, the Rink Cycle concert performed with 1000 Greater Victoria students, the addition of K-3 education concerts, and vsNEW, the program for young composers. Her commitment to new music has presented many world premieres for the Orchestra, garnering special praise from the Canada Council for Arts, and has supported the tenures of four composers in residences while in Victoria.

Victoria Symphony Board President, Deedrie Ballard, worked with Ms. Miller to finalize the new contract and is very pleased with her decision to remain as the Symphony’Äôs Music Director. "The Board of Directors feels that the Symphony and our many supporters are extremely fortunate to have Tania Miller under contract for an additional three years. It helps solidify our position as one of the most significant Arts organizations in the Province of British Columbia."

Ms. Miller joined the Victoria Symphony as Music Director in September 2003. As Music Director, Ms. Miller is responsible for programming, conducting the orchestra, and inviting soloists and guest conductors. She conducts between 10 and 12 concerts per season. As a spokesperson for the Victoria Symphony, she participates in events, media interviews, and appears at fund-raising activities. Continuously being involved in and connecting with the community, the public has witnessed Ms. Miller marry Tom Moonen, raise two sons Matthew (4) and Ben (2), and become a popular public figure in Victoria.

Maestra Miller is excited to be continuing with the Victoria Symphony. ’ÄúI am thrilled to be continuing as Music Director of the Victoria Symphony. I have grown very fond of the Orchestra. It has so many wonderful and warm people and I am surrounded each day by extraordinary talent. I am proud of the orchestra and its many accomplishments and look forward to our future together.’Äù

Ms. Miller joined the Victoria Symphony as Music Director in September 2003. The 2009-2010 season marks Tania Miller's seventh as music director of the Orchestra, an appointment that made her the first Canadian woman to be appointed to such a significant position in Canada. Her vibrancy and dynamic approach to music making have inspired many innovations with the Victoria Symphony and a new era of artistic growth for the orchestra.

The Victoria Symphony is Vancouver Island’Äôs largest and most active arts organization performing for more than 125,000 people each year, including 10,000 schoolchildren. Showcasing the outstanding talents of its musicians and guest artists, the Victoria Symphony’Äôs 2009-2010 season offers a diverse and exciting line-up of over 50 concerts.

Maestra Miller will conduct the following upcoming performances:

Haydn, Prokofiev and Mozart
Nancy Argenta, soprano
November 22, 2009
University Centre

Ehnes plays Beethoven
James Ehnes, violin
December 7, 2009
Royal Theatre

What a Wonderful World
Rachel Landrecht, soprano
December 14, 15, & 16
Royal Theatre

City Lights starring Charlie Chaplin screened with live performance of original score

Victoria, BC ’Äì On October 9 at UVic Centre Farquhar Auditorium, the comedic adventures of Charlie Chaplin’Äôs 1931 silent film, City Lights, will be shown with live orchestral accompaniment by the Victoria Symphony. The presentation also features a special introduction by actor and artist Duncan Regehr and a Chaplin Look-a-like contest.

The Victoria Symphony makes it a movie night like no other when City Lights starring Charlie Chaplin is screened with the score performed live by the Victoria Symphony. With precise synchronization to the film Conductor in Residence Giuseppe Pietraroia will conduct the original score written by Chaplin himself.

The Chaplin Look-a-Like Contest will be held between 7:30pm -7:50pm leading up to the concert looking for the best Tramp character and Chaplin impersonator. Winners will be announced at the start of the performance and prizes will be awarded at the end of the film.

City Lights will also be the official launch date of the new vsSOUNDCHECK program, which connects 15 to 29 year olds to a Victoria Symphony concert for only $12. vsSOUNDCHECK allows members to purchase tickets online during the week preceding the concert, offering great value and access to extraordinary live music. Membership is free on www.victoriasymphony.ca .

The Victoria Symphony is Vancouver Island’Äôs largest and most active arts organization performing for more than 125,000 people each year, including 10,000 schoolchildren. Showcasing the outstanding talents of its musicians and guest artists, the Victoria Symphony’Äôs 2009-2010 season offers a diverse and exciting line-up of over 50 concerts led by its vibrant Music Director Tania Miller.

Duncan Regehr, actor and artist, was born in Alberta and raised in Victoria, BC. He distinguished himself as an Olympic boxing contender, champion figure skater, and classical Shakespearean-trained actor. In 2000, he was granted the lifetime appellation, 'Royal Canadian Artist' with honours by the Royal Canadian Academy of Art and the Queen's Governor General for his outstanding artistic achievements and in 2008 Regehr received the honourary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria.

The Victoria Symphony wishes to acknowledge the generous support of Concert Sponsor the Bay Centre.

City Lights starring Charlie Chaplin
October 9, 2009 at 8pm
UVic Centre Farquhar Auditorium
Tickets: $26 for adults, $21 for students, $12 for vsSOUNDCHECK members
250.385.6515 or 250.721.8480
www.victoriasymphony.ca.

Victoria Symphony Heightens Its Beltone Pops Experience

Victoria, BC ’Äì On September 17, 18, and 19, international vocal quintet Five By Design opens the Beltone Pops Series with Swingin’Äô and Singin’Äô. This season, the Pops guarantees big band sound, bigger performances, and the biggest pops experience the Victoria Symphony has produced.

The Victoria Symphony has upgraded its Pops series to provide its audience with entertainment. With well-known pops performers including Five By Design, trombone soloist David Martin, and soprano Rachel Landrecht, the series is stronger than ever. The Victoria Symphony also partners with the Canadian College of Performing Arts in a tribute to the Best of Broadway. Conductor Brian Jackson and CCPA co-directors Jacques Lemay and Janis Dunning will dazzle and excite the audience with colourful costumes, talented young singers and dancers and live orchestra.

’ÄúOur Beltone Pops series will bring Victoria audiences a quality experience, the best in entertainment, and six different evenings to remember,’Äù said Victoria Symphony Executive Director Mitchell Krieger. The Victoria Symphony’Äôs mission is to enrich lives through the shared experience of extraordinary music; through Beltone Pops’Äô high-quality concerts, this series garners popular appeal as the concert experience is more than just the music, it is an event to attend. With activities happening in the lobby before and after the performance, the audience is in for a real treat.

Maestro Brian Jackson is the Principal Pops conductor of the Victoria Symphony, the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony and Orchestra London Canada. At the age of 25, Jackson was the youngest Music Director in Canada (Peterborough Symphony) and since that time he has conducted all the major Canadian orchestras. He has also led orchestras in the UK, Europe, the United States and South America. Jackson has performed all major symphony and choral literature as well as being recognized as a champion of Canadian composers.

The Victoria Symphony is Vancouver Island’Äôs largest and most active arts organization offering its audiences high-quality concerts in seven diverse series, and a commitment to fostering new music and a dedication to community involvement through music education. More than 125,000 people hear the Symphony each year, including 10,000 schoolchildren. Showcasing the outstanding talents of its musicians and guest artists, the Victoria Symphony’Äôs 2009-2010 season offers a diverse and exciting line-up of over 50 concerts led by its vibrant Music Director Tania Miller.

Five By Design’Äôs signature harmonies, unforgettable melodies and swinging rhythms stand out on the American landscape. This nationally acclaimed vocal quintet has been the choice of symphony orchestras and performing art centres delighting hundreds of thousands, offering more than 60 performances each season nationally and internationally.

The Victoria Symphony wishes to acknowledge the generous support of Beltone Better Hearing Centre for these performances.

For complete programming details of the 2009-2010 season please visit www.victoriasymphony.ca.