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Selkirk Symphony Orchestra set for Nelson concert

The Capitol Theatre in Nelson will be host to an amazing classical music event Saturday, May 25 at 7 p.m.
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Kootenay Brass Quintet is among the groups coming together for Symphonic Solos at the Capitol on Saturday.

The Capitol Theatre in Nelson will be host to an amazing classical music event Saturday, May 25 at 7 p.m. It isn’t often that the Kootenays' best classical musicians get a chance to work all together — and this is one of the few opportunities this year.

The Selkirk Symphony Orchestra is coming together to present Symphonic Solos. This event is an outpouring of love of music from our Kootenay musicians. They enjoyed playing together in the Symphony of the Kootenays this year and couldn't wait until next year to get together again.

The concert has been crafted to showcase the variety of professional classical musicians that we have in our communities from Nelson, New Denver, Rossland, Trail, Castlegar, and as far off as Kimberley, Vernon and Kamloops. The players for the concert have performed with various symphonies including the Symphony of the Kootenays, the Kamloops Symphony and the Okanagan Symphony.

The Rossini Overture to "La Cenerentola" features the wind section and gives them a chance to shine. The Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 1 by Handel features Wendy Herbison, Vic Neufeld and Jeff Faragher as the trio and allows the strings to show off.  The Kootenay Brass Quintet is made up of some of the best brass players in the Kootenays and will knock your socks off.

Bruce Dunn is coming out from Kamloops to be the music director and conductor for this performance. He is the conductor for the Kamloops Symphony and the former conductor of the Symphony of the Kootenays. Nelsonites will remember him fondly from his years of bringing the Symphony of the Kootenays to a packed house. The Selkirk Symphony is honoured that he is leading them through this program.

The performance also marks some changes in the music community here in the Kootenays. Alexis More will be leaving Nelson this summer, although she will be back for her Symphony of the Kootenays and La Cafamore string quartet engagements, and Martine DenBok will be coming in to take her place performing and teaching in Nelson and New Denver. They will each be playing solos with the Symphony, playing the Bloch Suite Hebraique and Legende by Wieniawsky, respectively. The concert gives Alexis a chance to say a heartfelt goodbye and Martine the chance to say an enthusiastic hello to these wonderful communities. Playing a solo with an orchestra is a gift, a challenge, a thrill and an experience that few musicians get in their musical lifetime.

This performance will be something wonderful, and the audience will surely pick up on the love of music and playing together that this group shares. Live music of this caliber is an experience not to be missed and will appeal to all ages and interests.

If you would like any further info please email selkirksymphony@gmail.com. Tickets are $20 for adults or $16 for students, available through the Capitol Theatre box office online at capitoltheatre.bc.ca or by phone at 250-352-6363. The concert starts at 7 p.m.