Pacific Region International Summer Music Association (PRISMA) has announced an expansion of its orchestra academy program through a multi-faceted collaboration with Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) and VSO School of Music.
Every June, the PRISMA Academy draws up to 80 post-secondary music students from more than a dozen countries. They convene as strangers but are quickly bonded through the universal language of music as they rehearse and perform symphonic and chamber music repertoire and gain valuable experience through lessons, masterclasses and audition training.
Under this year’s expanded model, PRISMA students will now spend three days in Vancouver (June 13 to 15, 2024) for an immersion in expertise alongside artists from the VSO before making their way to the qathet region from June 16 to 29. Highlights will include rehearsals in the Orpheum Theatre and sectional rehearsals at VSO School of Music's state-of-the-art facilities in downtown Vancouver.
The initiative builds a bridge between the academic and professional music realms, offering a unique platform for diverse young musicians to hone their craft alongside seasoned professionals, according to a PRISMA media release.
“I am thrilled to witness the fusion of our talented students with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and VSO School of Music in this groundbreaking collaboration,” stated PRISMA co-founder and artistic director Arthur Arnold. “This partnership is not just a meeting of three organizations; it is a convergence of aspirations, talent and a shared passion for musical excellence.”
The VSO has long been committed to quality music education, according to Angela Elster, president and CEO of VSO and VSO School of Music.
“We firmly believe that music is vital and essential to a well-rounded education," stated Elster. "The VSO is committed to connecting community to the joy of symphonic music by engaging all ages with interactive, educational programming through ‘Connects’, ‘Symphonic Encounters’ and ‘School concerts’. That commitment deepened when the VSO launched the VSO School of Music, which now serves almost 2,500 students, thereby supporting the next generations of aspiring musicians as well as music lovers. This PRISMA partnership is a natural next step in fostering artistic excellence.”
Cultural connection
Although this is the first official collaboration between PRISMA and the VSO, the organizations have shared several unique connections over the years.
“The partnership also reflects PRISMA’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of musical talent, ensuring that the rich legacy of orchestral music continues to thrive and inspire,” added Arnold. “I look forward to the possibilities it will enable as a pipeline for emerging artists, and for the orchestral community at large.”
Since 2013, VSO musicians past and present have frequently mentored PRISMA students alongside other international guest artists, while recent PRISMA alumni include VSO assistant conductor David Bui and violist Jacob van der Sloot.
Arnold and VSO music director/VSO School of Music artistic advisor Otto Tausk grew up in the same village in the Netherlands, crossing paths many times throughout their respective careers.
“The amazing VSO musicians are always eager to mentor, teach and advise students,” stated Tausk. “They have an incredible amount of knowledge and experience to share. We look forward to hosting PRISMA students at the VSO School of Music’s acoustically brilliant Pyatt Hall, and with us on stage at the Orpheum.”
After having their inaugural rehearsal as the PRISMA Festival Orchestra at the Orpheum on June 13, students will spend the afternoon observing a VSO rehearsal. Ten students will be invited into the VSO as guest musicians for the day, providing a coveted hands-on learning experience that will culminate in a performance that evening as part of The Path Forward, according to the release.
The Path Forward is a concert event curated by the VSO Indigenous Council, with performances by the VSO in collaboration with Indigenous artists from Coast Salish and other First Nations territories. Combining new orchestrations of traditional Indigenous music and contemporary Indigenous musicians and dancers, the concert aligns with and honours National Indigenous People’s Day, while acknowledging the role that organizations like the VSO must play in Truth and Reconciliation, the release stated.
“This new legacy will further our students’ career aspirations and a growing international awareness of reconciliation, as well as the artistic partnering of qathet Regional District and City of Vancouver,” stated Mike Robinson, president of PRISMA’s board of directors. “The combination of astounding Salish Sea beauty and urban sophistication demonstrates that rural/ urban partnerships can be both culturally [aware] and visionary.”
On June 14 and 15, PRISMA students will have the opportunity to explore British Columbia’s largest city while working with VSO musicians during daily sectional rehearsals, an audition training workshop and a career coaching seminar. From there, they will travel to Powell River for a two-week orchestral intensive as part of the 2024 PRISMA Festival.
For more information, go to prismafestival.com.
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