Civic Orchestra

Civic Orchestra

The Civic Orchestra is starts in 1983, when some of the members of the Hampton Orchestra decided to get into a new or under the leader ship of Charles barber, who conducted for the first couple of seasons.

The next conductor of the Civic Orchestra was Stuart Knussen, followed by Robert Cooper. Over the years, the players have enjoyed as guest conductors the different musical ideas and styles of Jean-Marie Kent, Janos Sandor, John French, Charles Job and Yariv Aloni. Dr. George Corwin has led the orchestra for about 10 years.

The orchestra’s objectives, as stated in its Constitution, are these:

• to perform orchestral music in and for the Greater Victoria area,

• to provide musical educational opportunities in the community.

At any one time playing members number about 50, and come from many backgrounds for the common purpose of enjoying making music together.

About half of the members have retired from the workforce. Careers, both past and present, span a wide range, including professional musician, astronomer, satellite engineer, corrections officer, university professor, government employee, teacher, retail clerk, realtor, accountant, world-class musical instrument craftsman, assistant to an organ builder, language translator, stock-broker, systems analyst, nurse and psychologist. Music and education students gain experience with the orchestra, as do foreign exchange students.

The orchestra has played at several venues in the Greater Victoria area, as well as in Duncan, Nanaimo and Arbutus Ridge. At one time exchange visits with a choir in Washington State took place. The annual Sing-along Messiah is the Civic’s biggest crowd pleaser.

The orchestra makes an effort to offer opportunities for gifted soloists to showcase their talents – particularly the youth of Victoria. The 2006/07 season featured young dancers as well as youth talented on various stringed instruments and piano.

Music Director — George Corwin

Renowned as a conductor of aesthetic and rare musical sensibility, George Corwin is equally at home with orchestra, chorus, opera and small ensemble. He is in demand as a guest conductor throughout North America and more recently in Asia. He is also Music Director of Concentus Corvinus, a group of soloists performing as a small ensemble. Corwin's multi-faceted musical sensibility was nurtured at Ithaca College. He performed in orchestras and bands as a percussionist and trombonist, and also performed extensively as a singer. In 1960, he was invited by Howard Hanson to join the ensemble and conducting staff at the famed Eastman School of Music, where he embraced the high standard of musical excellence to which he judiciously ascribes. As Professor of Music at the University of Victoria from 1969 to 1995, where he conducted the university orchestra, the 'Little Orchestra' (a faculty/student chamber orchestra), the University Chorus, the Opera Workshop and the 'Sonic Lab' (a contemporary music ensemble), George Corwin continued to foster his passion for musical and performance excellence. Corwin's vast repertoire spans the musical spectrum from the earliest music of the pre-renaissance to the most modern of today, a truly eclectic musical palette. (Quote Civic Orchestra)

First Violin (Principal) — Raya Fridman

Raya holds a College Diploma in Orchestra/Music Education from Russia and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Concordia University, as well as a Master in Music from the University of Victoria. Her performing experiences include the Chamber Orchestra of Leningrad, Montreal Chamber Orchestra, Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony Orchestra and Victoria Chamber Orchestra. She has also enjoyed Master classes with Pinkas Zukerman, Eleonora and Yuli Turovski, Richard Roberts, Thomas Williams and workshops with “I Musici” and “Quador Bozzini”. Raya teaches violin at the Victoria Conservatory of Music.

Viola (Principal) — Volker Metz

Volker has played the viola since his early school days with a number of orchestras and smaller groups in Europe and Canada. He joined the Civic Orchestra of Victoria when he returned to Victoria in 1998. He is also active in the Victoria Chamber Orchestra and the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra.

Cello (Principal) — Sally Clarkson

Sally first started to play the cello when she was 12 and was eventually considered good enough to play in her Father's string quartet in London, England. She joined the