Saturday, March 13, 2010
8 pm l Conexus Arts Centre
Victor Sawa, Conductor

Guest Artist:  George Gaó, erhu

PROGRAM
Ridout:  Frivolities Canadiennes
Tan Dun:  Crouching Tiger Concerto
R. Strauss:  Ein Heldenleben

George Gaó returns, by popular demand, to the RSO stage.  Armed with his erhu, a Chinese two-stringed, bowed instrument, he will perform the Crouching Tiger Concerto from the movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”.  Closing the concert is, Ein Heldenleben “A Heores Life”, a composition of incredible colour and characterization.
After winning the first prize in the Beijing National Erhu Competition, George Gaó launched an international performing career. He has toured the US, Canada, France, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China extensively and has been featured as a soloist with the Toronto Symphony      Orchestra,       Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Taiwan National Chinese Orchestra, National Arts Center Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and I Musici.  George Gaó has also performed many recitals, including appearances at the Glenn Gould Studio, the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto), City Hall Concert Hall (Hong Kong), and the National Concert Hall (Taipei). Billions of people around the world have watched him on CCTV, China’s most watched TV station. George’s passionate and actively expressive style of playing regularly brings audiences to their feet.

When the highly respected film director Ang Lee decided to make his first film set in legendary China, he turned to Tan Dun for the score.  Tan Dun's music draws upon many Asian  ethnic sources. The film included virtually straight Chinese ceremonial and classical music, as well as an Eastern-flavored, but Hollywood-inflected love theme that came to dominate the l atter parts of the film. Each action sequence had its own very distinct style. The first major fight in the film, where a thief, in a spectacular aerial ballet, is pursued over the rooftops at night, is accompanied by Chinese drumming. The music accompanying a duel taking place in the tops of a bamboo forest has a haunting, floating sound.

Tan Dun's score to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was one of the most unusual and     effective film scores of its time.

Other events marking the evening:

7:15 pm—7:45 pm  Join Assistant Principal Clarinet, Pauline Minevich on second balcony east for Symphony Preludes, an informal chat about the music, and anecdotes about the composers.

Post-Concert in the Theatre Lobby will be the Chung Wah Kung Fu Centre’s Lion and Dragon Team.  Check out more at www.kungfuregina.com

Ticket Packages for RSO Mosaic Masterworks concerts are still available. 
Adult Single tickets start at $30. 

Youth aged 14 –24 can take advantage of the Classically Hip program which offers tickets at the discounted price of $13. 

Ticket Packages, Single tickets and Classically Hip tickets can be purchased at the
Regina Symphony Orchestra Box Office, 2424 College Ave. or phone 791.6395,
up to 4 pm on Friday, February 12th.  Single tickets (excluding Classically Hip)
can also be purchased at the CBO 525.9999 or 1.800.667.8497 or online at
www.reginasymphony.com

 A Symphonic Tribute to the Music of Paul McCartney

Monday, April 19, 2010
8 pm
Conexus Arts Centre

The Regina Symphony Orchestra adds an unforgettable evening to an already unforgettable season.

Live and Let Die is Tony Kishman’s tribute to the music of Paul McCartney.  Tony Kishman along with frequent collaborator Jim Owen (guitar and keyboards), and Classical Mystery Tour drummer Chris Camilleri,  re-create, in sound and image, the experience of a live performance of the most  popular songs by Paul McCartney, backed by the beauty and majesty of the   Regina Symphony Orchestra. Kishman, with his  uncanny resemblance both visually and vocally to the   beloved Beatle, is regarded by the “Beatlemaniacs” and Beatle connoisseurs as the world’s best McCartney look-alike/sound-alike.

Live and Let Die combines the power of pop with the beauty of symphonic orchestration to bring a delightful concert experience to McCartney and Beatle fans of all ages.

Tickets go on Sale 10 AM Tomorrow!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Tickets are $45, $60 & $75 and can be purchased at the
Regina Symphony Orchestra Box Office,
2424 College Ave. or phone 791.6395, at the CBO 525.9999 or 1.800.667.8497 or visit www.reginasymphony.com

Saturday, February 13, 2010
8 PM
Conexus Arts Centre
Victor Sawa, Conductor

Guest Artists:  Cécile Denis, Harpist
Youth Ballet Company of Saskatchewan

PROGRAM
Raum:  Flamenco Dance
Tchaikovsky:  Selections from Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty
Debussy:  Sacred and Profane Dances
Kodály:  Dances of Galanta
Ravel:  Bolero

Programmed in time for Valentine’s Day, experience every fact of dance music from the fierce to the ethereal.  The RSO ends your passionate evening with Ravel’s Bolero made famous in the movie “10”.  All in all, an evening that will leave you breathless and crying out for more!

The Youth Ballet Company of Saskatchewan is the pre-professional performing troupe of the Youth Ballet and Contemporary Dance of Saskatchewan (YBCS).  Founded in 1983, YBCS is a non profit society which operates a dance school as well as the company.  The Company reputation for providing excellence an innovative works has been recognized by leading artists from Canada and abroad.  The Youth Ballet company regularly engages in    collaborative projects with other Regina artists and arts groups; and is extremely excited and honored to be performing with the Regina Symphony Orchestra this season.

Other events marking the evening:

7:15 pm—7:45 pm  Join Assistant Principal Clarinet, Pauline Minevich on second balcony east for Symphony Preludes, an informal chat about the music, and anecdotes about the composers.

Ticket Packages for RSO Mosaic Masterworks concerts are still available. 
Adult Single tickets start at $30. 

Youth aged 14 –24 can take advantage of the Classically Hip program which offers tickets at the discounted price of $13. 

Ticket Packages, Single tickets and Classically Hip tickets can be purchased at the Regina Symphony Orchestra Box Office, 2424 College Ave. or phone 791.6395, up to 4 pm on Friday, February 12th.  Single tickets (excluding Classically Hip) can also be purchased at the CBO 525.9999 or 1.800.667.8497 or online at www.reginasymphony.com

In August of 2008, His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales announced his intention to become the Royal Patron of the Regina Symphony Orchestra.  The Regina Symphony Orchestra is the only Orchestra in Canada to have a Royal Patron, and was given this honour before the RSO’s Centennial Season.  The Prince of Wales is Patron or President of over 400  organizations throughout the Commonwealth.  This is his first patronage in Saskatchewan. 

The Prince of Wales, through the Ministry of Protocol, Government of Saskatchewan, requested five of the Regina Symphony Orchestra’s musicians to perform at a dinner at Rideau Hall on Wednesday, November 11, 2009.

The Regina Symphony Orchestra is honoured to be sending a Woodwind Quintet to perform at the dinner celebration with the Prince of Wales.  Representing the RSO will be Jim Fitzpatrick, Principal Clarinet; Elizabeth Raum, Principal Oboe; Marie-Noelle Berthelet, Principal Flute; Alan Denike, Principal Bassoon; and Richard Burdick, Principal French Horn.

Elizabeth (Betsy) Raum is active both as an oboist and as a composer, her works include 3 operas, over 40 chamber pieces, 15  vocal works, choral works including an oratorio, several ballets, concerti and major orchestral works.  Pieces by Betsy Raum have won many prestigious awards, have been heard throughout North America and in Europe, and have been broadcast extensively on CBC.  She enjoys a reputation of being one of Canada’s most “accessible” composers, writing for varied     mediums in remarkably diverse styles.  She has also written for some of the worlds finest artists, film and video, and has won awards for the scores to the documentaries, “Saskatchewan River”, “Like Mother, Like Daughter”, and the feature length film, “Sparkle”. 

“This is great!  We’re excited about the opportunity to play for His Royal Highness, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Michaëlle Jean, a lady I much admire.  And best of all, I get to play a piece I wrote especially for this event called “Big Ben” - it’s going to be quite a day!”  Ms. Raum said.
The Regina Symphony Orchestra is underway with its 101st season and plays an integral role in the cultural  fabric of Southern Saskatchewan.  The Orchestra is led Maestro Victor Sawa and is a full scale professional orchestra.  By continuing to strive for excellence in performance and by remaining relevant to its audiences, the orchestra will continue to grow and enrich life in Southern Saskatchewan.
"We are very proud that the oldest orchestra in Canada is from Saskatchewan, and now has the great honour and privilege of performing for Their Royal Highnesses and representing our great province,” Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister   Dustin Duncan said.  “The RSO is part of Saskatchewan's vibrant and growing arts and culture sector, key to ensuring our enviable quality of life, building pride in our communities and supporting economic growth.”

Funding through The Saskatchewan Arts Board makes it possible for The Regina Symphony Orchestra to share its music and performances with people in our province and beyond.  This helps people everywhere better appreciate the love for live orchestral music.

Ottawa, ON (November 9, 2009) The Canadian Music Centre will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary.  In honour of this landmark, the CMC has chosen to publicly recognize 50 outstanding Canadian performers and conductors who have played exceptional roles in shaping the Canadian music scene and raising the profile of Canadian music.  In recognition of his own exemplary contribution, the Board of Directors of the CMC has selected Eduard Minevich (RSO’s Concertmaster) to be among the 50 who will receive the new designation of CMC Ambassador.

In the early half of the 20th century, Canadian composers recognized that there was a need to create a central repository for information on Canadian music as well as a need to promote and facilitate the     performance of Canadian music. After much lobbying, the Canadian Music Centre (CMC) was officially formed in 1959. In its humble beginnings, the CMC was responsible for collecting and cataloguing serious musical works, developing a catalogue of music scores, copying and duplicating the music, and making it available for loan, both nationally and internationally.

Since that time the CMC has grown considerably and today five regional centres offer the music of its  Associate Composers through full lending music libraries. In 1973, the Regional Centre in Montreal,   Quebec was opened. This was followed in 1977 with a new CMC Centre in Vancouver B.C. and in 1980, the Music Centre already existing in the Prairie Region joined the CMC. The Ontario Regional Centre came into being in 1983 and became a tenant of the CMC National building in Toronto, sharing its library. In 1989, a CMC Atlantic office was created in Sackville, N.B., as a donation from the Mount Allison's    University, and is now part of its main Music Library space.

Eduard Minevich was born in the U.S.S.R. and studied violin at the prestigious Leningrad Conservatory. Upon graduation he joined the Leningrad Concert Orchestra as a soloist and concertmaster.  He also gave solo recitals and performed with a leading quartet until his immigration to Canada in 1975.
In September 1999 Eduard Minevich accepted the position of Concertmaster with the Regina Symphony Orchestra.  As well as being a featured soloist with the orchestra, he has toured the province with his trio ‘Contrasts' and performs regularly with The True Jive Pluckers, trio he shares with fellow RSO      principal bass Stephen McLellan and renowned guitarist Jack Semple. 

His wife Pauline Minevich is Assistant Principal Clarinet with the RSO.

Minevich will guest artist with the RSO on Saturday, November 7 in “From Jazz to Tango”, which has been performed across Canada but never at home in Regina.

The Regina Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce that its Music Director/Conductor, Victor Sawa has agreed to take the position of Artistic Consultant of the Saskatoon Symphony for the remainder of the 09.10 season and has signed a three year contract as Music Director starting in the 10.11 season.
Victor will continue as the RSO’s Music Director/Conductor and to live in Regina with his family.

Victor Sawa commented that "It is an honour and privilege to have the opportunity to lead the Saskatoon Symphony as Music Director.  There are real challenges to be met in the near future but with the help of the staff, players, and the board, we will prevail.  My aim is to provide quality and varied orchestral music and reach as many of the people of Saskatoon and area as possible.  Let's have fun together!”

Victor Sawa, who joined the Regina Symphony Orchestra in 1997, has made a huge impression on    Regina’s community.  He has fashioned a reputation as one of Canada’s most popular symphonic conductors out of his musical talent, the exuberance he brings to the podium and his skill a communicator and teacher.  Nobody has done a better job of taking the Regina Symphony Orchestra and its depth of wonderful talents to the people than he has.  This is why we think he will do a remarkable job in Saskatoon as well.

Born in Montreal, he holds a Licentiate of Music and a Bachelor of Music (with distinction) and Concert Diploma (also with distinction) from McGill University.  He was awarded the Premier Prix Concours for Clarinet and Chamber Music from the Conservatorie de music de Montreal.  In 2006, the University of Regina conferred its first honorary doctor of fine arts degree on Maestro Sawa. Victor has also won countless awards, including the Queen’s Jubilee medal and Grammy.

A true maestro of the people, his greatest joy, (along with family, movies, sports and strong coffee) is  winning over those who have never set foot near a classical concert.  “Conducting and kids are what keep me young, I might be good for another 50 years” Victor laughs.

Victor Sawa brings a powerful combination of talent, experience and personal dynamism to the podium whenever/wherever he conducts.  Currently, he is Music Director of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra and Regina Symphony Orchestra.  Previously, he was a Resident Conductor with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (1993-1997), and Music Director with the North Bay Symphony, Guelph Youth Orchestra and Kitchener-Waterloo Orchestra.  He also served as Principal Clarinet with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony for many years and has guest-conducted orchestras all over the world. 
The Regina Symphony Orchestra is happy to share his talent with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra.

For immediate release: Thursday, September 4, 2008

The Regina Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce that His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has accepted an invitation to become Patron for a five year term beginning in the orchestra’s Centennial Season. The RSO’s Centennial season runs from September 2008 to May 2009.

“We are honoured to have been selected as one of the organizations that The Prince of Wales has chosen for Royal Patronage”, said Janice Wallace, Chair of the Board, Regina Symphony Orchestra.

The Prince of Wales is Patron or President of over 400 organizations throughout the Commonwealth. This is his first patronage in Saskatchewan. The Regina Symphony Orchestra is the only orchestra in Canada that has been granted Patronage by The Prince of Wales.

The Prince of Wales was the first honorary member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, the province’s highest honour, into which he was invested during his visit in 2001.

The Regina Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 100th concert season in 2008.2009 and plays an integral role in the cultural fabric of Southern Saskatchewan. The Orchestra is led by Maestro Victor Sawa and is a full scale professional orchestra. By continuing to strive for excellence in performance and by remaining relevant to its audiences, the orchestra will continue to grow and to enrich life in Southern Saskatchewan.

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales
KG, GCB, KT, OM, AK, QSO, SOM, CD
Patron of the Regina Symphony Orchestra

Born in 1948 and christened Charles Philip Arthur George, The Prince of Wales is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh. He became heir apparent to the throne and Duke of Cornwall on The Queen’s accession in 1952. He was invested as Prince of Wales by The Queen in 1969.

His Royal Highness graduated with an honours degree from the University of Cambridge in 1970. He received his wings from the Royal Air Force and served in the Royal Navy between 1971 and 1978. In 1981 he married Lady Diana Spencer; their two children Prince William, born in 1982, and Prince Harry, born in 1984, are respectively second and third in line of succession to the throne. The marriage was dissolved in 1996. The Princess of Wales was tragically killed in a car crash in 1997. In 2005 The Prince of Wales married Mrs Camilla Parker-Bowles, who is now known as Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall.

The Prince of Wales actively supports a large number of charities, social causes, and cultural and sports organizations. Among his many interests are the environment, organic and sustainable agriculture, health care and complementary medicine, architecture, urban planning and building heritage, youth and education, the inner city, and interfaith dialogue. His work with young people, featuring partnerships between business and the community, is carried on principally through his core charities, which now number more than twenty and include the Prince’s Trust. He is a patron of the arts, especially music and the visual arts. 

The Prince of Wales is patron or president of approximately 400 organizations around the world. In Canada, he is Colonel-in-Chief of the Lord Strathcona Horse in Edmonton, the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, the Black Watch of Canada in Montreal, the Royal Regiment of Canada in Toronto, the Royal Canadian Dragoons in Petawawa ON, the Toronto Scottish Regiment and the Air Reserve. His Royal Highness is also Patron of Abbeyfield Homes for seniors in Britain and Canada, Canadian Business for Social Responsibility, the Canadian Warplane Heritage and the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club in Ontario.

The Prince of Wales was invested as the first honorary member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit (SOM), the province’s highest honour, during his visit in 2001. Apart from the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD), this is the only Canadian honour to have been awarded to His Royal Highness.

The Regina Symphony Orchestra is the first patronage granted by The Prince of Wales in Saskatchewan and the only orchestra in Canada of which he is patron.

September 2008

For more information contact:
Lal Straub
lstraub@sasktel.net
306.791.6394