Vancouver Island Symphony 2008 2009 Season

PIERRE SIMARD has been appointed Artistic Director of the Vancouver Island Symphony for the 2008-2009 Season. He is currently Resident Conductor with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. His career leads him throughout Europe, the USA, the Mauritius and Réunion islands and Canada. He appears as guest conductor with major North American ensembles, including orchestras in Milwaukee, Tucson, Toronto, Ottawa (NAC), Hamilton, Victoria, Québec’s Les Violons du Roy and Montreal’s Orchestre Métropolitain. All the while fiery and elegant, he shares his passion for music with a contagious enthusiasm. His warm and generous personality, exceptional charisma and deep knowledge of the orchestral repertoire have granted him repeated praise from critics and audiences alike.

Pierre Simard was awarded the Canada Council for the Arts 2007 Jean-Marie Beaudet Award in conducting. He received two Opus Prizes from the Québec Music Council while music director with SMCQ-Jeunesse, and grants from the Québec Arts Council, Montreal’s Mayor Foundation and Ville de Laval.

A passionate defender of new music as well as mainstream symphonic repertoire, Pierre Simard dedicates himself to reinventing the concert form, combining his fresh ideas, fantasy and humour with music. His outstanding creativity and engagement with youth audiences inspire him to write and perform original symphonic shows which are featured across Canada.

Whether in his work as Head of Choral Activities and Instructor in Music History and Conducting at Vancouver Community College, or as Music Director at West Vancouver United Church and Conductor of the 60 voice Pacific Spirit Choir, Gerald van Wyck nurtures artistic growth. His innate musical talent, versatility and tireless energy have also been appreciated in clinics, festivals and workshops across Canada and the Pacific Northwest. In his fourteen year tenure as Artistic Director of the British Columbia Boys Choir he toured extensively around Europe and North America, recording four CD’s. As Music Director of the Pacific Spirit Choir he has led the choir through performance with professional orchestras of the large-scale choral masterpieces. He has guest conducted orchestras including the West Coast Symphony and Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. van Wyck is a passionate believer in music’s ability to inspire and create community. He is the 2003 FANS Legacy Award Winner for his contributions to Vancouver’s North Shore arts community.

Marlin Wolfe was the founding Artistic Director of the Vancouver Island Symphony from 1996-2008. Wolfe has conducted concerts in Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia, Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden and recently conducted the Orchestra Sinfonica di Lecce in Italy, to critical acclaim. He has also conducted national tours of The Nutcracker with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and performances with the Banff Festival Ballet. Maestro Wolfe founded the Edmonton Chamber Players Orchestra and was its Music Director and Conductor for five years. During this time, it was heard regularly on National CBC Radio in Canada and the US. Other orchestras he has conducted include the Calgary Philharmonic, CBC Vancouver Orchestra, Canadian Chamber Orchestra, Vancouver, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina and Victoria Symphonies as well as the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. In 2001 Marlin Wolfe was awarded the Excellence in Culture award by the city of Nanaimo for his contributions and accomplishments with the Vancouver Island Symphony.

Jason Nett is one of Canada’s exciting new composers. His works have been performed by such ensembles as the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra, the Aventa Ensemble, the Vancouver Guitar Quartet, and the British Columbia Boy’s Choir. Jason’s music is capturing audiences with its unique sound – a blend of his passion for art music, fused with rock and jazz roots. The result is an exciting sound full of rhythm and life.
Mr. Nett is also a sought after performer and studio producer, creating albums for artists both in Vancouver and San Francisco. Jason grew up in Nanaimo BC, and currently lives in Vancouver.

Music for Calvin is a passion, a profession and a pleasure. He started his musical training on the accordion at age five and began violin when he was eight. He studied at Biola University and University of Southern California where in 1991 he received his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Violin Performance.
Calvin has travelled the world with various musical ensembles and enjoys a wide variety of engagements - playing for musicals, weddings, films and recording sessions, and producing highly successful community concerts while directing the Abbotsford String Virtuosi. He has taught at Scripps College, Biola University, Kwantlen College and Trinity Western University in British Columbia. He has released four recordings: Meditation, This Shining Night, One Small Child and The Dancing Violin. One Small Child was nominated for a Shai Award as best Instrumental Album and Best Seasonal Album in 2005.
Calvin lives in Abbotsford with his wife, Heather, and their two young children, Christine and Andrew. Besides making music, he enjoys the challenges and adventures of family life, gardening, reading, and travelling.

Vancouver Island Symphony Members 2008-09 Season

Violin I

Calvin Dyck, Concertmaster **
Eveline O’Rourke Honourary Concertmaster’s Chair
Li Ling Liao, Assistant Concertmaster *
Lynne Allard

Violin II

Cliff Zheng*
James Mark
Marjorie Cullerne
Kathleen Hovey

Viola

Manti Poon*
Guyonne Le Louarn

Cello

Robin Copas * (on leave)
Joel Stobbe* (Acting)
Silvina Samuel
Alasdair Money
Ron Edinger
Brendan Millbank

Bass

Mark Beaty*
John Forrest

Bassoon

Anthony Averay*
Olivia Martin

Flute

Paolo Bortolussi *
Emily Nagelbach

Oboe

Pippa Williams*
Melissa Duchak

Clarinet

Susan Bullock*
Rebecca Fischer

Trumpet

John Ellis

French Horn

Keon Birney
Karen Hough
Heather Walker

Trombone

Tuba

Eric Morton*

Timpani

Bass Trombone

Scott MacInnes*

Percussion

Jonathan Bernard*

Harp

Lani Krantz*

* Principal Player