The Prince George Symphony Orchestra (PGSO) is conducting a search for a new conductor, and with word just barely out, applications have already been submitted for the position.
"We have interest, people are wanting the job," said PGSO board chair Jim Caldwell. "We have a committee that will look over all the applications, once the deadline is past, and create a shortlist of the best candidates.
Opportunities will be available for the shortlisted candidates to come and be a guest conductor for one of our concerts, as an audition."
This process has been helpful in past calls for a PGSO conductor. When the late Wallace Leung won the job, but died of a sudden, unexpected illness, his friend Bradley Thachuk was called in to help the symphony through that difficult time.
Thachuk had gone through the same audition process as Leung. He went on to guest in Prince George on several occasions before moving on to other orchestras.
The baton spot opened up at the PGSO in December when current conductor and artistic director Leslie Dala announced he would not be renewing his contract to concentrate on conducting positions he also held in the Lower Mainland.
He has been the principal conductor in Prince George for eight years, the longest duration in the orchestra's history.
"We, as an organization, have to really thank Leslie," said Caldwell. "He is extremely well connected in the music world and he was able to call in a lot of favours and identify some very strategic people to help us through times of financial difficulty. Those skills are in large part what has gotten us through."
Dala's final concert with the PGSO will be one, said Caldwell, "that demonstrates all facets of his talents and experience."
Dala will conduct Chorfest BC's flagship event bringing together a mass choir with the orchestra in O Is For Opera to be held at the Prince George Civic Centre in May.
Caldwell said probably four candidates would be shortlisted for a guest conductor opportunity. That shortlist would likely be finalized at the end of this month.
