P.E.I. Symphony celebrating its 50th
The orchestra is collecting memories and honouring John Clement
The P.E.I. Symphony Orchestra had its first performance in 1968 and to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the event, it has announced several events for the new season, including a project based on memories from their audience.
Bruce Craig, president of the orchestra, says that the orchestra is not the same as it was in the beginning.
“Back then, anybody who wanted to play came and played, and they rehearsed down in the basement of St. Dunstan’s.”
Craig credits the change from small-town group to professional orchestra to John Clement, who recently died.
“John introduced bringing in professional musicians,” Craig explains, saying they got performers from many other provinces with his help. “We’re dedicating this 50th concert season to the memory of John and his legacy.”
In honour of his influence on the orchestra, Craig says they are planning to set up the John Clement Memorial Fund, which will make tickets cheaper for children.
“I think John would fully embrace bringing young people in like this,” Craig says, “One of his main legacies is introducing young people to music.”
In addition to the memorial fund, the symphony, through its website, has requested on its website, asking visitors if they have “letters, photos, programs, mementos of our days gone by,” with the intention of using the submissions to tell the history of the orchestra. They are calling it the 50th Anniversary Stories Project.
Will Hobbs is working on this project, which he wants to be “an archive of memories.”
“We already have an archive, but it’s so cold and impersonal.” Hobbs explains, “The story of the orchestra is the people who play in it, the people who work to create it and the people who attend.”
Hobbs says that apart from just audience members, he would like former performers to share as well. “There are people all across Canada who got at least part of their musical education with us,” he says.
He says that, one story he’s already found, was a complete surprise. “One of our young librettists turned out to have a grandparent who was part of the founding generation,” Hobbs says. “We learned that while they were giving an interview.”
The Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra is planning to start its new season on May 1. It will have five major concerts over the season, including one specifically to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation.