Thank you for your coverage of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal ceremonies, which were held Saturday, May 19. Missing from the article and list of Sooke recipients was Maestro Norman Nelson, conductor of the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra, who has also been awarded a medal.
As stated in our nomination letter, “For more than 40 years, Norman Nelson has made a profound difference to musical life in British Columbia and Canada’s western provinces, as an educator, mentor, conductor and violinist.”
Norman was unable to attend the medal presentation because he was at the final concert of the annual Sooke Harbour Chamber Music Workshop – yet another of his incredible contributions to Sooke and the musical community.
Maestro Nelson was nominated by three orchestra members (Sonja de Wit, Brent Straughan and myself), backed by Patricia Phillips (President of the Sooke Philharmonic Society) and past SPS Presidents David Lintern, Sue Hyslop and Terry McGinty.
We are very happy that Norman Nelson has received this recognition, and we hope that MP Randall Garrison is able to attend one of the remaining 2012 Sooke Philharmonic concerts to present his medal in person.
Michele MacHattie
Sooke