Skip to content

Houston house hosts fundraising musicale

The historic John Houston house at 702 Carbonate Street was the site of a musical fundraiser for the Nelson Overture Concerts Society.
67218westernstarIMG_6176
Dorothy Fraser and Ruth Langevin


The historic John Houston house at 702 Carbonate Street was the site this month of a musical fundraiser for the Nelson Overture Concerts Society.

Kathleen Neudorf, Noemi Kiss, Dorothy Fraser, Ruth Langevin, Tobias Jenny, Arni Satanove, and others donated their time and talent.

The society, founded in 1955, was established with the goal of bringing affordable classical music to town, and stages an annual series of concerts.

“We feel that it is vital to introduce our younger generation to the classics,” says president Kathryn Shold, who hosted the concert in the home that once belonged to the city’s founding mayor.

With the help of a Columbia Basin Trust grant, the society has been able to offer free admission to participating schools as part of an outreach program.

Last season, twice as many students and schools took advantage of the program as the year before.

“The cultural landscape of Nelson has radically changed since 1955 and there is more competition for an audience,” Shold says. “It is vital to keep our prices affordable and at the same time, ensure the viability of the school program.”

The society’s 2012-13 lineup consists of pianist Inna Faliks on September 15, Vancouver vocal chamber ensemble Musica Intima on October 13, local singer and choir director Allison Girvan on January 26, and Montreal’s Ensemble Caprice on March 8.

Season tickets are $75 for adults and $42 to students. Single-event tickets are $24 for adults and $14 for students. All shows are at the Capitol Theatre.

Many artists also provide workshops and classes while they’re in town.