The sound of classical music will fill the air for the next two weeks in Powell River.
The PRISMA (Pacific Region International Summer Music Association) Festival starts today and runs through Saturday next week (June 24).
Most performances are at the Evergreen Theatre.
Around 80 students from around the world are coming here to perform and learn.
“When these students arrive here they don’t know each other, most of them, and they come together and by the end of the first week they’re really putting on these huge symphony concerts for a public audience,” festival spokesman Andy Rice said in an interview with Vista Radio.
He says it’s a great learning environment, not only for the students but the performers.
“I think to be vulnerable as an artist, you need a supportive environment where you can feel free to make mistakes and take risks and sort of let your guard down a little bit and I think people can do that in Powell River, on stage and off, and it’s just so conducive to being able to make music to its fullest potential,” Rice said.
Twenty-five guest artists are on the bill for the festival’s 11th year.
The two-week festival includes the free, family-friendly PRISMA on the Beach concert at Willingdon Beach Park this Saturday night.
Rice is also excited about his “pet project” – PRISMA for Kids. He calls it a “carnival atmosphere” where children can get up close and personal with performers and their instruments and ask questions – something that’s not conductive in a traditional performance setting.
As for other notable performances, Rice says it may be your last chance to see the Lafayette String Quartet as the Victoria group disbands after 36 years together.
For more information on the festival, including event dates and times, visit the PRISMA Festival website here.
