Welcome to the 2017-2018 Season!

I am delighted to invite you to the Oakville Symphony’s 50th birthday party. Our golden anniversary season is truly something to celebrate, and celebrate it we will.

Our gala opening concerts in November will bid farewell to our country’s 150th year-long birthday celebration by performing three outstanding Canadian works – the Canadian classic Fall Fair Overture by Godfrey Ridout, Maxime Goulet’s United Anthems along with the Romantic Overture by Oakville composer Hunter Coblentz. Other musical highlights throughout the season will feature the majestic Symphony #1 of Johannes Brahms, the haunting Scheherazade of Rimsky-Korsakov and a celebration of the centenary of Leonard Bernstein.

As always, outstanding guest artists will join us throughout 2017-18. The brilliant violinist Timothy Chooi will perform Bruch’s Violin Concerto #1,  the exciting pianist Mehdi Ghazi performs Beethoven, and Oakville soprano (and Berlin resident) Vanessa Lanch will thrill us with the songs of Richard Strauss. The season comes to a triumphant close with a concert that celebrates the genius of conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein. This program will include a performance of the thrilling Brahms Double Concerto with violinist Yehonatan Berick and Oakville cellist Rachel Mercer, and talented performers from the Sheridan College Theatre Program in highlights from the classic Broadway shows: West Side Story and Candide.

In addition to our subscription series, our Family Christmas concerts will again feature the beautiful music of the Holiday season with the Symphony being joined by the sublime Oakville Children’s Choir.

On behalf of our talented musicians, I extend my thanks to our loyal subscribers for your enthusiastic presence at our concerts. The 50th season is a unique and special occasion to celebrate this wonderful artistic treasure that is the Oakville Symphony. Come to our musical party.

ROBERTO DE CLARA
Music Director/Conductor, Oakville Symphony