In October 2012, I came to Sooke to present a donation to the Sooke Philharmonic Society from the Ernest Lieblich Foundation of Los Angeles, and to hear a young Alice Haekyo Lee perform the Saint-Saens Violin Concerto with Maestro Nelson’s Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra. I returned last weekend to hear another young musician, Keaton Ollech, perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the orchestra. In both instances I was entranced. Such incredible talents, such virtuoso musicianship by two young teenagers.
If possible I shall visit again in June next year, to hear Alice’s enchanting performance of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto.
The Sooke Philharmonic Society must be commended for its dedicated efforts to encourage and develop young musicians. The devotion invested by Maestro Nelson and his board of directors is shaping the lives of youngsters, whom they tirelessly strive to help become fine musicians and better students, and for which they also reap the ultimate divident, stalwart citizens.
The downside of course, is support. We can help with much-needed cash donations, and also by donating retired instruments lounging unused in closets and garages. These will always be gratefully received by the society to help those students unable to afford their own, and will be a well-deserved pat on the back to all those in the Sooke Philharmonic Socieity involved in such an important, commendable project.
John Lee
Los Angeles, CA