Cowichan Camerata String Orchestra Fills your Winter Musical Cup

It is said that “music is the drink that fills the cup of silence.” COVID brought silence to the world in many ways. For music lovers, the absence of live music over the past year has left many thirsty, including audiences and performers anxious to be able to return to rehearsing and performing.

The Cowichan Camerata String Orchestra has been performing locally since 2006. As with other musicians, our regular concerts have been cancelled since March 2020. We were fortunate to be able to perform this summer at two outdoor venues - the Evergreen Pavilion and Fairbridge. We are excited to announce our upcoming Christmas concert ‘Winter Serenade’.

The Camerata String Orchestra is a ‘strings only’ teaching orchestra. We offer musicians of all ages and abilities the opportunity to improve their playing skills, gain experience playing in an orchestra, and performing in public. A friend invited me to a Christmas Concert in 2007, performed at St Andrew’s Church in Cowichan Station. I joined the orchestra the following fall, picking up my dad’s cello I had played at school and way too many years ago to reveal! Having not played in decades, I was so nervous about trying to remember years of musical knowledge I’d let slide; but as rusty as I was, no one snickered at my wrong notes, miscounting, or squawking bow.

Members of the Camerata range in age 12 to 92. Some are or have been professional musicians; most are intermediate or beginners. Some perform in other groups; some in smaller ensembles. Over the years, our numbers have remained consistent with about 25 players, sometimes as many as 30; this year we are a bit smaller. New members are always welcome, and we invite anyone interested in joining us to connect through Facebook, or our website.

In addition to our two annual concerts, we have performed in a variety of venues, at community events, busking downtown, and at fundraisers. We usually bring our ‘dress rehearsals’ to extended care and assisted living facilities for people who would not normally be able to attend our concerts, but these are different times. We are excited to bring some seasonal winter cheer. Under the direction of Chris Redsell, the Camerata’s ‘Winter Serenade’ concert will be held December 11 at St. Peter’s Quamichan Church Hall in Duncan and December 12 at Oceanview Church in Ladysmith. Concert time is 3:00 pm both days. Tickets are $15 per adult, children under 12 free, available at Ten Old Books (Duncan) and Salamander Books (Ladysmith), from any orchestra member or by emailing info@ cowichancamerata.org . Masks and proof of full vaccination along with government issued ID required at the door.

Madelaine MacLeod has been with the Camerata since 2009. She plays the cello made for her dad’s 16th birthday, and which he played as a member of the Calgary Symphony Orchestra until 1953.