After playing last year with Sooke Philharmonic Chamber Players, Rae Gallimore will return this year for another solo performance for the Celebration of Young Artists Concerts.
The fall concerts of the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra take place Saturday (Oct. 24) at the Sooke Community Hall and Sunday (Oct. 25) at Our Lady of the Rosary Church on Goldstream Avenue in Langford. Both concerts begin at 7:30 p.m.
Gallimore won the Don Chrysler Concerto Competition last April and placed second in the 2014 concerto competition. She played the Telemann Viola Concerto in G with the Sooke Philharmonic in November, 2014.
This competition, now in its 10th year, is open to musicians under the age of 25 who are studying voice or an instrument on Vancouver Island or the Gulf Islands.
The winner receives the opportunity to perform his or her concerto or song cycle with the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra.
Also on the program is the well-known Symphony No. 9 by Dvorák, popularly known as the New World Symphony. This symphony was written during Dvorák’s stay in the U.S., and was in part inspired by some of the African-American music he heard. The concerts open with another composer who was deeply rooted in his country: Jean Sibelius.
The Karelia Suite is influenced by the folk music of his native Finland, and evokes northern wilderness landscapes. Young musicians from the Victoria and Sooke School Districts, including students from Journey Middle School and Edward Milne Community School, will be joining the orchestra to play this work.
The SPO focuses on mentoring youth, and a portion of the money from ticket sales will go to support school music programs.
This season, the SPO will be highlighting a local artisan at each concert. October’s artisan is Fredwin Perry, a stone carver. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students; 16 and under are free. For tickets and more information, please call 250-419-3569 or go to the SPO website, sookephil.ca.