Pacific Region International Summer Music Association (PRISMA) will be returning to the community June 12 to 24, and its conductor provided City of Powell River councillors an update.
At the May 2 committee of the whole meeting, Arthur Arnold, artistic director, offered the city thanks for its continued support of PRISMA, and for having a multiple-year agreement with the organization in place.
“That allows us to plan ahead,” said Arnold. “The support of the three local governments helps us to get other grants.
“In grant applications, we always get the question: 'what kind of local support do you receive?' Both your in-kind and financial support is utterly important.”
Arnold said there is a visitor component to the annual orchestral academy, bringing people to the community.
“It’s put Powell River on the map, internationally,” said Arnold. “For example, this year we’ll get 80 students from 17 countries. This year they are very high level.”
Arnold said the organization has also received a grant to upgrade acoustics in Powell River Recreation Complex rehearsal rooms.
“We received a $40,000 grant and we are now working together with [director of parks, recreation and culture] Tara O’Donnell and the city workers at the recreation complex,” said Arnold. “Many of those rooms are so over-acoustic that it’s really hard. We are professionalizing. This year we are getting two students from Julliard, and to get those levels of players, we need to provide the right professional surroundings.
“We are very lucky that we have a theatre in Powell River that is actually very good, acoustically, for orchestra.”
Arnold outlined the impacts PRISMA has on the community. He said through PRISMA for kids, schools are visited every year and he plays for hundreds of children, telling them about music and teaching them how music connects all.
“It’s quite unique to have this level of international festival that includes an academy, to have that in our small town,” said Arnold. “I find it fantastic and it’s just because I fell in love with Powell River that we have it here.”
Mayor Ron Woznow said in addition to being an opportunity for young people, Arnold and some of his colleagues have also done wonderful things at the seniors centre, and that has meant a lot to people to get this quality of music.
Woznow said last year he had the opportunity to have two members of a Singapore quartet stay at his house, and what he realized is what is seen on the stage when going to a PRISMA event is only a small amount of the impact that PRISMA is having on the young people who are being given the opportunity to listen to masters.
“You will almost certainly get strong support from the city,” said Woznow, “when it comes to dealing with any issues.”
