Ensembie finds means to make music North Shore’s Pro Nova Ensemble takes challenge of arts survival head on Evelyn Jacob SPOTLIGHT FEATURE ITH THE major symphonies hemorrhaging red ink right across the country, it Comes as a pleasant sur- prise to find a small non- profit group bucking the trend. Since its debut in 1985, the Pro Nova Ensemble (formerly the Pro Nova String Quartet), has devel- oped an impressive annual con- cert series and has actually managed to increase its foliowing despite the tough recessionary times. “We manage to just stay above water,’’ says the ensemble’s music director. Hans-Karl Piltz, a retired University of British Columbia music professor. Piltz doesn’t pretend for a mo- ment ihat there are hefty financial rewards to be found in cha:nber music, It's the joys he receives from being part of a flexible, in- timate group that keep him fretting his viola and not fretting over monetary considerations. As far as Piltz is concerned, small is better. “Our typical audience is be- tween 25 and 75 people, and that’s the way we like it because the audience can get close to us,” he says. “With symphonies, there’s that initial 50 feet between the stage and the front row; in the Queen Elizabeth theatre you have to have field glasses to see what’s going on. “If we have trouble turning a page, if we hit a sour note, the audience is with us. They can see the expressions on our faces — we're not always smiling. in a symphony orchestra, nobody notices.”’ Operating under the umbrella organization of the Deep Cove Chamber Soloists Society, the Fro Nova Ensemble is made up of core members Marcelle Nokony, a former assistant concert master with the Regina Symphony, cellist Audrey Nodwell, who heads the FREE BROCHURE The Canadian dolias is down and government coupun rates are up. Now is the time to take advantage of high coupon rates for your 1993 RSP or for your cash sccount. With government coupons there is flo eed to forecast future interest rates becuuse you know exacily what your investment will be worth at maturity. Call today to receive yous com- plimentary coupon brochure and current rates. Mark Osachoff 661-7433 * interest sudject to cnange daily ScotiaMcLeod BLY ” NEWS phcto Neil Lucente THE PRO Nova Ensemble has managed to increase its audience despite the tough economic timess Shown on the page 25 Now front cover photo are (back row, left to right}: Ann Stafford, Marcelle Nokony, Audrey Nodwell (front row, left to right): Hans-Kar! Piltz, Aurora Felde. Suzuki Cello department at the Vancouver Academy of Music. and Piltz. The group has been without a first violin since 1991, when former music directc: and ensem- ble founder Vivien Waters exited citing burnout. (Waters was sup- posed to return this past summer but leit for New York instead and now teaches at the Royal Conser- vatory in Toronto.) Ever the optimist, Piltz says Waters’ absence has allowed the ensemble to invite guest artists to perform, hence the name change to ensemble, Now, anywhere irom two to seven musicians piay at any given time, which means they can tackle works international! touring chamber groups can’t afford to. Their upcoming Dec. 6 concert at Mount Seymour United Church, for example, will feature six musi- cians and include a double bass — too bulky an instrument for tour- ing groups tc transport. “And these international tour- ing groups have a very small tour- ing repentoire,”’ adds Piltz. “‘They probably work on two quartet programs for years, playing the same pieces night atier night. You Hear the difference Sound Charger makes > ¢ Sound Charger™ Noise Reduction > f © 10-Channel, Remote Changeable © Auto-Diaier for 10-Favourite Numbers © Paging from Base-to-Handset ™ ar THORIZED PANASONIC SA\ * Sound Charger™ Noise Reduction * Keypad on Base with Speakerphone ° 10-Channel, Remote Changeable Auto Dialer for !6-Favourite Numbers CE DEALER 4 get periection, but you also get boredom.” + The group's free concert series typically feature a mixed repertoire of classical and contemporary work. (The ensemble also plays dozens of benefits for focal chari- ties.) Its repertoire was much more “heavily contemporary” in the early days, but that didn’t sit well with audience members who demanded a more classical em- phasis (North American audiences are far from adventurous when it comes to classical music, and it’s no surprise that most repertoires are stuck in the 19th century). So over the fast few years Piltz has added more romantic and classical pieces. During the same time, the Canada Council axed the group’s funding for the commission of new works. Since 1985 it has commis- sioned some nine works from notable Canadian composers in- cluding Anita Sleeman and David Duke. Overall, however, Piltz says it has been spared major funding cuts. And he has a down-to-earth phi- losophy for keeping the group from running into the red: don’t spend what you don’t have. “At the beginning of the year we know what we have to spend on the season, and we plan for that. During the vear we try to fundraise for the next season. “AU we need is enough to fund three people and we're in business. We can’t operate with any less than that.” One challenge tne group will have to face in coming years is finding a venue to accommodate its growing audience. See Ensemble page 44 today. * Sound Charger™ Noise Reduction ¢ 10-Channel with Auto Scan * Handset LCD Display for Battery level, Channel-in-use, and more! © Speakerpinone on Base * Monitor Speaker in Handset CHRISTMAS HOURS MON-SAT 9:30-5:97 FAI Night until 9 prn SUNDAYS 12-5 pm Parking in Rear of Busliding