The Nova Scotia Youth Concert was playing at the DeCoste Center. Tickets were just &10 so we decided to have a night out. My goodness were we glad we did!!
The evening started with the Heatherbells bagpipers at the marina as we got fish and chips for dinner at the local stand. Across the way you could hear the Mennonite choir singing as we sat on the deck of the DeCoste eating our dinner. At 7:00 we went inside ready to listen to a group of 12 year olds play. We relaxed and waited as the show was half an hour late. The curtain opened and from that moment we were just mesmerized with the remarkable talent of these young musicians.
The conductor, Dinuk Wijeratne, has played Carnegie Hall with Yo Yo Ma, taught at Juillard in NY, and is not only a conductor but also a composer, a pianist, and an instructor.
Nadina Mackie Jackson was the featured soloist. She is Canada's most recorded solo bassoonist. The Bassoon Concerto in E-Flat major was the opening and we sat in awe. Nadina played A sonata by Francis Poulenc with Kailan Fournier Poteet, a very talented student. Congratulations to Lucas Oickle from Vancouver, who was asked to composed a song for bassoon and orchestra. He wrote Squeezed Through The Wood especially for Nidina and the NSYO.
The evening ended with Symphony No.8 by Beethoven. It was an evening as good as any symphony we have attended. Bravo to the talented youth, 12 and up, and their amazing conductor. Guest soloist Nadina was marvelous; we are sure the orchestra benefitted greatly by having her share her experiences with them. Check out NSYO. We are already looking forward to hearing them next year.
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