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ARTS Visit insidehalton.comfor more coverage O akville Sym phony celebrates 50th anniversary season NATHAN HOWES SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER From the local YMCA to the Oakville Centre of Performing Arts, the Oakville Symphony has come a long ways since its formation more than 50 years ago. Formed by conductor Ken Hollier, a Burlington high school music teacher, the group held its first rehearsal on March 4, 1968 with 15 musicians and then performed its first show on June 24 that year at the YMCA of Oakville. The organization is now nearing com­ pletion of its 50th anniversary season (2017- 18). In recognition, Saturday, April 14 was declared Oakville Symphony Day, which included family-oriented day and evening festivities at the Oakville Centre, in part­ nership with it and the Town of Oakville. Among the highlights was the Friends of the Oakville Symphony - Past and Pre­ sent special evening performance from the symphony and musical guests. "For almost any enterprise, whether it's business or artistic, 50 years is a really sig­ nificant time to be in business. It shows the support of the people who run the organi­ zation and support from the public," said maestro Roberto De Clara, who has been with the orchestra for 21 years. "When you've been around for 50 years, that's really significant." The idea for the celebratory day came about while the organization was planning the 50th anniversary and wanted to hold special events, in addition to its regular season lineup, De Clara said. "The idea came to try to do something that would really envelope all of the Oak­ ville community. We normally do mini con­ certs and young people's concerts with full orchestras, so we combined them on the same day," said De Clara. The anniversary season, which began in fall 2017 and concludes in May, featured a number of performances De Clara found memorable including the first show, which featured "outstanding young soloist" Timo­ thy Chooi, and in February, a program with "wonderful pianist" Mehdi Ghazi, among others, he recalled. "Every concert was designed to be part of a great season, but each concert is sort of a special event itself," said De Clara. The final program of the season, taking place Saturday, May 12 and Sunday, May 13, will celebrate the work of composer Leon­ ard Bernstein. It will include a rendition of Brahms' Double Concerto with violinist Yehonatan Berick and Oakville cellist Rachel Mercer, as well as entertainers from the Sheridan College theatre program in highlights from West Side Story and Candide. "It's really a galactic program because we're sort of honouring Leonard Bernstein for the whole show. It should be a really ter­ rific way to end the season," said De Clara. Besides the 50th anniversary, the Oak­ ville Symphony is also celebrating its new affiliation with the Halton-Mississauga Youth Orchestra, now called the Oakville Symphony Youth Orchestra. The youth orchestra was initially estab­ lished by Jean Grieve, one of the founding members of the Oakville Symphony. "We thought it would lend another way to enrich music for young people in the community, enrich the community itself and for the orchestra to be affiliated with its own youth orchestra, as well. It is a in- tergenerational thing," said De Clara. 51 G raham P a in e /M e tro la n d Clockwise from top: Mayor Rob Burton proclaims April 14 as Oakville Symphony Day, which was followed by a concert by the local musical group at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts Saturday; Burton presents the official proclamation to Anne Hewitt, president of the Oakville Symphony's board of directors. The 2017/2018 season is a milestone year for the Symphony; it is celebrating its 50th anniversary; Maestro Robert De Clara addresses the audience prior to the start of the concert; A member of the orchestra performs. Call for free in house quote! CONTINENTAL • F IR E P L A C E S • ttU ^ 8 4 b-U/U1 bcott@gastix»ca airgas m o d e ls m !teontem poraTwatfc/ T ra d it io n a l d e s ig n s H om e5tars | O akville B eaver | Thursday, A pril 19, 2018 in sid eh alto n .co m