NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA CONCERT ASSOCIATION
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As we come to the end of summer, our thoughts turn to fall activities and a new season of wonderful concerts. Although COVID is still with us, it looks like more activities will be opening over the next few months including indoor gatherings for theatre and concerts.
The Orillia Concert Association (OCA) Board has arranged an excellent series of concerts for this coming year. We are all looking forward to getting back into regular routines, and to the opportunity to enjoy excellent music.
What will the 2021-2022 season look like for the OCA? The Opera House is opening on a limited basis only at this time. With the potential for ongoing restrictions on audience capacity, the first two concerts this year will be virtual.
Sinfonia Toronto, an outstanding 16-piece ensemble, is recording an exclusive concert for OCA subscribers that will be available for 30 days starting October 23rd. You will be able to watch and listen to this concert in the comfort of your own home or perhaps gathering with a few others to share in the experience.
The second concert of the season is the amazing Peter Stoll on clarinet/saxophone, and he is recording a concert for us at St. Andrews here in Orillia. Stoll will be joined by Adam Zukiewica on piano. This concert will also be available exclusively to OCA subscribers starting on Nov. 28.
Coming up in 2022, Sonic Escape (Maria Millar, violin and Shawn Wyckoff, flute) will return on Feb. 20 for another outstanding, energetic presentation of traditional and original works, all performed with an anything-goes sense of fun.
The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry will perform our second scheduled concert of the new year on March 27; in 2017 the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Band, under the name of the Hamilton Wind Orchestra, was enthusiastically enjoyed by everyone. We are bringing them back but this time as the RHLI band: they will be in full uniform (scarlet tunics) and it will be a real military event.
The Toronto All Star Big Band will round out the season next spring, with a May 1 performance. Returning to Orillia after nine years, the Toronto All Star Big Band is one of the most exciting bands around, reviving the spirit, style, and sound of the 30s, 40s and 50s – that golden age of the big bands.
With the expectation that COVID restrictions will lessen in 2022, the final three concerts of this coming year will be in person. We expect that masks will still be required and it is possible that anyone attending the concerts in person will be expected to be fully vaccinated. The Opera House does have the capability of live streaming the concert for those unable to attend in person.
Ticket sales for the upcoming season will start in September. The entire series of five concerts will be available at the very low and affordable cost of $70, and, for previous ticket holders, at the extraordinarily low price of $50.
We hope you will be able to join us for these wonderful performances.
For further information, please call 705-327-0703 or visit the Orillia Concert Association website here.
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