Looking back on 2021, it did come with its challenges for many non-profit organizations in the entertainment industry and it was no different for the Prince George Symphony Orchestra.
During the past year, the local symphony orchestra presented livestreaming events in the spring and then were able to offer live performances to their audiences in the fall.
The audiences had to be altered from what once was full capacity, sold out concerts to being reduced to 50 per cent and then reduced further to 50 people and then back to 50 per cent due to pandemic safety protocols.
“If it can remain at 50 per cent then we can at least offer our mainstage series with some success,” Ken Hall, executive director of the PGSO, said looking toward 2022.
But of course restrictions change often to keep everyone safe from COVID-19 and performance-based organizations have had to learn to adapt on the fly.
There are five mainstage performances, two children’s concerts and a student concerto competition on the roster for 2022.
“We’ve got some exciting local soloists we’re working with,” Hall said.
Flora Camuzet will be on the cello during Borodin’s Symphony No 2 that will take place Jan. 16 at Vanier Hall.
“Karl Stobbe is also playing in concert with us so definitely all local connections,” Hall said.
Stobbe will play violin on Feb. 26 at Vanier Hall.
Daniel Lapp on fiddle will do a concert on April 2 at Vanier Hall.
During the planning stages of the season, organizers kept travel restrictions in mind to make sure special guest musicians would be able to attend with few barriers, Hall noted.
“So we are anticipating 50 per cent capacity and budgeting for that,” he said.
“People definitely have an appetite for the orchestra and we do have subscriptions for the season that are available right now.”
For more information visit www.pgso.com
