Christine Pilgrim

Messiah soloists Marion Newman (mezzo soprano, left), Scott Rumble (tenor), Natalie Image (soprano) and Scott Brooks (bass) greeted the public after their stunning performance with the Okanagan Symphony Sunday, Dec. 18.

Concert review: Hallelujah for OSO’s Messiah

The Okanagan Symphony, soloists and 105-strong choir played Handel's Messiah to a sold-out Vernon Performing Arts Centre.

Messiah soloists Marion Newman (mezzo soprano, left), Scott Rumble (tenor), Natalie Image (soprano) and Scott Brooks (bass) greeted the public after their stunning performance with the Okanagan Symphony Sunday, Dec. 18.
Christine Pilgrim OSO Music director Rosemary Thomson, right, and guest violinist Lara St. .John take a moment together In the wings while musicians tune up for the Okanagan Symphony’s first concert of the 2016-17 season at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre Sunday, Oct. 23.

Symphony Review: OSO opens season in a D major triumph

The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra scored a major triumph at Sunday’s opening of its 2016/17 season.

Christine Pilgrim OSO Music director Rosemary Thomson, right, and guest violinist Lara St. .John take a moment together In the wings while musicians tune up for the Okanagan Symphony’s first concert of the 2016-17 season at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre Sunday, Oct. 23.
Members of Kokopelli, University of Pretoria Youth Choir and Okanagan Indian Band Cultural Immersion School Choir mingle in the Marie Fleming Room at the Performing Arts Centre before their concert Monday.

Concert review: NOCCA season ends in a melding of cultures

University of Pretoria Youth Choir and Edmonton's Kokopelli created a rainbowed feast of united energy, rhythm and song.

Members of Kokopelli, University of Pretoria Youth Choir and Okanagan Indian Band Cultural Immersion School Choir mingle in the Marie Fleming Room at the Performing Arts Centre before their concert Monday.
Pianist Chris Donnelly and clarinetist Kornel Wolak take questions from Sunday night’s audience at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre.

Concert Review: Duo is on a first-name basis with its audience

The North Okanagan Community Concert audience was treated to an evening of unadulterated excellence by the Wolak Donnelly Duo Sunday.

Pianist Chris Donnelly and clarinetist Kornel Wolak take questions from Sunday night’s audience at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre.
Sergei Saratovsky leans against NOCCA’s 1887 Steinway before a performance so dramatic that he and tuner Matt Arnett had to check for broken strings at the Performing Arts Centre Sunday, Feb. 21.

Concert Reviews: Steinway’s last stand

Sergei Saratovsky delivers afternoon of bliss on the North Okanagan Community Concert Association’s soon-to-be retired 1887 Steinway piano.

Sergei Saratovsky leans against NOCCA’s 1887 Steinway before a performance so dramatic that he and tuner Matt Arnett had to check for broken strings at the Performing Arts Centre Sunday, Feb. 21.
Christine Tassan et les Imposteures, bassist Blanche Baillargeon, violinist Martine Gaumond, lead guitarist Tassan, with guest rhythm guitarist  Ivan Garzon, put the woman in manouche when they performed at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre Nov. 1.

Concert Review: Toe-tapping gypsy jazz at its joyful best

Review of the North Okanagan Community Concert presentation of Christine Tassan et les Imposteures.

Christine Tassan et les Imposteures, bassist Blanche Baillargeon, violinist Martine Gaumond, lead guitarist Tassan, with guest rhythm guitarist  Ivan Garzon, put the woman in manouche when they performed at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre Nov. 1.
Borealis String Quartet members Nikita Pogrebnoy (left), Patricia Shih, Yuel Yawney and Sungyong Lim celebrate with Coldstream composer Imant Raminsh (centre) after their world premiere performance of Raminsh’s Quartet No 3 at NOCCA’s gala opening of its 2015/16 season Thursday.

Concert Review: Borealis opens concert series with flair

Borealis String Quartet gives world premiere of Imant Raminsh's Quartet No 3 to thunderous applause and a standing ovation.

Borealis String Quartet members Nikita Pogrebnoy (left), Patricia Shih, Yuel Yawney and Sungyong Lim celebrate with Coldstream composer Imant Raminsh (centre) after their world premiere performance of Raminsh’s Quartet No 3 at NOCCA’s gala opening of its 2015/16 season Thursday.
Members of the Elektra Women’s Choir relax in the green room at the Performing Arts Centre before their concert Saturday, May 23.

Concert Review: Choir gives an ‘Elektra-fying’ finale

Elektra Women's Choir closed the North Okanagan Community Concert Association’s season with professional polish and aplomb.

Members of the Elektra Women’s Choir relax in the green room at the Performing Arts Centre before their concert Saturday, May 23.
Alysha Black plays Bruch's Violin Concerto in D Minor before the North Okanagan Community Concert Association's presentation of the Bergmann Duo, Friday at the Performing Arts Centre.

Concert Review: Bergmann Duo show that four hands are better than two

Elizabeth and Marcel Bergmann give the North Okanagan Community Concert Association’s penultimate concert of the 2014/15 season.

Alysha Black plays Bruch's Violin Concerto in D Minor before the North Okanagan Community Concert Association's presentation of the Bergmann Duo, Friday at the Performing Arts Centre.
Cellist Charles Inkman, violinist Cameron Wilson and pianist Allen Stiles, otherwise known as Joe Trio, at the Performing Arts Centre during the North Okanagan Community Concert Association's Kaleidoscope series.

Concert Review: Joes are way above average

The Joe Trio not only carried out its mandate to “unstuff” the classics; it kicked the stuffing clean out of them.

Cellist Charles Inkman, violinist Cameron Wilson and pianist Allen Stiles, otherwise known as Joe Trio, at the Performing Arts Centre during the North Okanagan Community Concert Association's Kaleidoscope series.
Virtuoso horn player Louis-Philippe Marsolais (left) and North Okanagan Community Concert Association president Paul Maynes celebrate the success of Tuesday’s gala concert featuring Les Violons du Roy.

Concert Review: Les Violons du Roy play music fit for a king

Les Violons du Roy awed Tuesday’s North Okanagan Community Concert Association’s gala audience.

Virtuoso horn player Louis-Philippe Marsolais (left) and North Okanagan Community Concert Association president Paul Maynes celebrate the success of Tuesday’s gala concert featuring Les Violons du Roy.
Glenn Lévesque (left), Marc Morin and Sébastien Dufour relax before their concert at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre.

Concert review: Montréal musketeers have spirit

A common spirit connects three French Canadian musical musketeers known on their six CDs as the Montréal Guitare Trio.

Glenn Lévesque (left), Marc Morin and Sébastien Dufour relax before their concert at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre.
Members of Van Django take to the stage at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre as part of the North Okanagan Community Concert Association’s current season.

CONCERT REVIEW: Van Django concert adds some heat

Vancouver-based acoustic string quartet Van Django breathed fire into gypsy jazz

Members of Van Django take to the stage at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre as part of the North Okanagan Community Concert Association’s current season.
Concert pianist Ian Parker was joined by Vernon violinst Colleen Venables during the North Okanagan Community Concert Association matinée Sunday.

CONCERT REVIEW: Parker inspires and connects with audience

Parker was joined by Vernon’s teenage prodigy, Colleen Venables

Concert pianist Ian Parker was joined by Vernon violinst Colleen Venables during the North Okanagan Community Concert Association matinée Sunday.
Flutist Christie Reside and pianist Terence Dawson check over their music before performing for North Okanagan Community Concert-goers Friday.

Concert review: Duo gets back to Bach

Christie Reside and Terence Dawson impressed North Okanagan Community Concert-goers at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre Friday.

Flutist Christie Reside and pianist Terence Dawson check over their music before performing for North Okanagan Community Concert-goers Friday.
Roman Borys (cello), Jamie Parker (with page turner Amy Friedman at piano), and Annalee Patipatanakoon (violin) comprise The Gryphon Trio who played at the Performing Arts Centre Saturday.

Concert Review: A ‘gem’ opens diamond year for NOCCA

North Okanagan Community Concert Association celebrates its 60-year anniversary with a sparkling performance by The Gryphon Trio.

Roman Borys (cello), Jamie Parker (with page turner Amy Friedman at piano), and Annalee Patipatanakoon (violin) comprise The Gryphon Trio who played at the Performing Arts Centre Saturday.
OSO conductor Rosemary Thomson goes over the score of Rachmaninoff's Concerto in C Minor with renowned concert pianist Minsoo Sohn who had just flown in from Michigan to rehearse with the orchestra the night before Thursday's concert.

Concert Review: Okanagan Symphony conjures kaleidoscopic images

Thursday’s Okanagan Symphony concert, aptly entitled Kaleidoscope, met expectations.

OSO conductor Rosemary Thomson goes over the score of Rachmaninoff's Concerto in C Minor with renowned concert pianist Minsoo Sohn who had just flown in from Michigan to rehearse with the orchestra the night before Thursday's concert.
Sergei Saratovsky rehearsing before his virtuoso performance, hosted by the North Okanagan Community Concert Association at the Performing Arts Centre on St. Patrick's Day.

Pianist heralds spring on St. Patrick’s Day

Russian pianist Sergei Saratovsky brings a spectacular performance in the St. Patrick's Day concert sponsored by the NOCCA

Sergei Saratovsky rehearsing before his virtuoso performance, hosted by the North Okanagan Community Concert Association at the Performing Arts Centre on St. Patrick's Day.
Montréal Guitar Trio’s Sébastien Dufour  joined band mates Marc Morin and Glenn Levesque in signing CDs for audience members after their performance on Friday.

CONCERT REVIEW: Glorious guitar fills Vernon Performing Arts Centre

Audiences are still buzzing about weekend concerts by the Montréal Guitar Trio and Okanagan Symphony featuring guitarist Daniel Bolshoy.

Montréal Guitar Trio’s Sébastien Dufour  joined band mates Marc Morin and Glenn Levesque in signing CDs for audience members after their performance on Friday.
Dressed in their best, Jan Waldon (left), Elizabeth Dickson, Ritchie Leslie, Rose Harryman, Laurie Spearin and Marie Marchand attend the NOCCA’s gala concert with Triple Forte at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre Wednesday.  

Concert Review: Triple Forte’s best saved for last

Piano trio Triple Forte's unannounced encore wins North Okanagan Community Concert audience over.

Dressed in their best, Jan Waldon (left), Elizabeth Dickson, Ritchie Leslie, Rose Harryman, Laurie Spearin and Marie Marchand attend the NOCCA’s gala concert with Triple Forte at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre Wednesday.