The Orchestra before a performance at Vancouver Island University in June of 2019 (photo by: Blair Photos)
About Us
The Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra is a community-based string orchestra numbering approximately 25 musicians. Members include experienced professionals, dedicated amateurs and talented young musicians. The age range of the membership spans about 70 years, from mid-teens to the mid-80s. Although all the NCO musicians are passionate about playing music, there exists a variety of backgrounds in the group--lawyers, nurses, business executives, teachers, electricians, realtors, computer geeks, dental hygienists.
Mentoring young musicians by providing training and performance opportunities is an important goal of the orchestra. One of those opportunities is an annual concerto competition for young instrumentalists or vocalists. The competition winner performs at the June concerts with the orchestra. In addition, talented young musicians are often invited to perform solo parts in other concerts. The NCO has been very fortunate to have had over 30 young musicians participate as orchestra members over the past 11 years.
The NCO also supports the String Section of the Upper Island Musical Festival. In 2019 bursaries were awarded to Ella Wyndlow (Jr 'A' Provincial Rep) and Maya Harbo (Alternate Jr 'A' Provincial Rep).
The NCO features local soloists whenever possible. Our soloists have included clarinetist Earl Thomas, percussionist Nicole Arendt (marimba), oboists Deborah Vitek and Pippa Williams, flautists Jennifer Cluff and Cindy Speelman, soprano/alto duo Elizabeth Lutz and Elizabeth Wilson, guitarist Oscar Clemotte, cellist Helena Jung, violinists James Mark and Karl Rainer, pianists Sarah Hagen, Sharon Wolzien and Rie Okamura, Trumpeters Bryn Badel and Stevan Paranosic, horn players, Andrew Clark and Heather Walker, saxophonist Chris Helman and bassoonist Katrina Russell.
The NCO's regular season is comprised of three programs between September and June. The orchestra has played the "Sing Along Messiah" with the Malaspina Choir and for many years has performed summer concerts of lighter, more familiar music.
Mentoring young musicians by providing training and performance opportunities is an important goal of the orchestra. One of those opportunities is an annual concerto competition for young instrumentalists or vocalists. The competition winner performs at the June concerts with the orchestra. In addition, talented young musicians are often invited to perform solo parts in other concerts. The NCO has been very fortunate to have had over 30 young musicians participate as orchestra members over the past 11 years.
The NCO also supports the String Section of the Upper Island Musical Festival. In 2019 bursaries were awarded to Ella Wyndlow (Jr 'A' Provincial Rep) and Maya Harbo (Alternate Jr 'A' Provincial Rep).
The NCO features local soloists whenever possible. Our soloists have included clarinetist Earl Thomas, percussionist Nicole Arendt (marimba), oboists Deborah Vitek and Pippa Williams, flautists Jennifer Cluff and Cindy Speelman, soprano/alto duo Elizabeth Lutz and Elizabeth Wilson, guitarist Oscar Clemotte, cellist Helena Jung, violinists James Mark and Karl Rainer, pianists Sarah Hagen, Sharon Wolzien and Rie Okamura, Trumpeters Bryn Badel and Stevan Paranosic, horn players, Andrew Clark and Heather Walker, saxophonist Chris Helman and bassoonist Katrina Russell.
The NCO's regular season is comprised of three programs between September and June. The orchestra has played the "Sing Along Messiah" with the Malaspina Choir and for many years has performed summer concerts of lighter, more familiar music.