PRO MUSICA

C

VANCOUVER PRO MUSICA wants to knock the

straw out of chamber music’

By TIMOTHY RENSHAW

The medium-sized classical
and chamber music orchestra
was established in February
1984 as a privaieiy funded
collection of 20 to 30-yeur-
old classically trained musi-
cians dedicated to reviving
the moribund carcass ol
highbraw music recitals.

s stuffed shirt.

“In our concerts, we
endeavour to create an mfor-
mal atmosphere that will
break down some of the more
traditional barriers between
audience and musician,"* ex-
plains Pro Musica President,
Paul Nicholls.

Nicholls says that the com-
monly held perception of
classical musig as the ex-
clusive soundtrack of the up-

per class played by the
musical elite serves only to
alienate a huge segment of
the population from the en-
joyment of this music. Pro
Musica musicians, therefore,
cultivate a relationship of in-
timacy and cordiality with
their audiences, swapping
shop talk and coffee with
them during intermissions.
Dispelling, in the pracess, the
image of the classicel musi-
cian as the long-haired snob
peering dow iis nose at the

great unwashed.

“Playing the rausic is, for
as. an enjoyable experience,"
Nicholls says, *tand we want
to make it the same kind of
experience for the audience.’

Threugh this removal of
pseudo-classic2zl snobbism,
the orchestra feels i¢ will at-
tract: aspiring and talented
younger chamber and
classical musicians io its con-
certs and eventually to its
ranks,

The ttalian translation of

NEWS photo Mike Wekefleld

6000 HOURS alter beginning work on his owa board game, Dick Mulvaney plays The Human Race with Julie Lowden
and Courtney Menzies. Mulvaney’s educational game answers questions about drug and alcohol abuse, smoking and

venereal disease.

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VANCOUVER
WALDORF
SCHOOL

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eccept the
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September 85

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For iurther information
985- 7435

$1 - Friday. June 7,

Pro Musica is **for music’,
which underlines the main
reason for the orchestra’s
original formation and en-
thusuastic existence.

“We are more than just a
performing group,” Nicholls
says, “we are a unified entity
with membership from all
musical backgrounds. in-
eluding the VSO. Our ambi-
tion is 10 eventually become a
fully funded regionally-based
orchestra."

Also high on the Pro
Musica list of priorities is the
promotion and presentation
of local classical composers
and soloists. Nicholls says a
six-concett, 1986 tour will
feature the work of a local
composer at cach Pro Musica
concert: There is a lot of ex-
ceptional musical talent com-
ing out of Vancouver, but it
is seldom given the chance to
be heard."

Pro Musica will be presen-
ting the beauty of classical
chamber music in the or-
chestra’s spirited and infor-
mal style, Sunday at 8 p.m. in
the Presentation House
Theatre, 333 Chesterfield

1985 - North Shore News

Change

of
pace

PAGE 53

assicai music with broad appeal

North Vancouver.

A 13-member Pro Musica
contingent will perform a
recital for orchestral strings.
including works from
Mozart. Schubert,
Beethoven, Samuel Barber,
and Jean Sibelius.

Ticket information call
986-1351.

John Zoltek prepares to
fead 13 members of the Pro
Musica orchestra in a recital
for strings, Sunday night at
the Presentation House
Theatre.

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