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30 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday August 22, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Artscene Oakville Beaver · FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2008 Strong ticket sales music to orchestra's ears Orchestra sells out season for third year, pushing for larger Oakville Centre By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF While orchestras across Canada are struggling with sluggish ticket sales, the Oakville Symphony Orchestra is continuing to be an exception. Although the first concert of its 2008-09 concert series isn't until Nov. 1, all of the subscriptions have already been snapped up. That's just under 950 subscribers. And this is the third year in a row this has happened. So, why is the OSO thriving while other orchestras are dangerously close to going bankrupt? A major reason is the dedication of the musicians, according to Roberto De Clara, artistic director and conductor of the OSO. The orchestra is made up of about 80 players. The principals in the string section, as well as first flute, first horn, percussion and harp are paid, with the remaining musicians donating hundreds of hours of their own time throughout the performance season, which runs September through May. "The fact the orchestra exists is due in large part to the musicians who give so much of their time," said De Clara. "If they didn't, this orchestra would need to have a much larger budget." Times have definitely changed. When De Clara was hired in 1997, the orchestra had about 250 subscribers. He said finding the right repertoire for Oakville audiences is another reason behind record subscription sales. "In terms of repertoire, it is about developing trust with an audience," he said. "Sometimes, orchestras go too much to the pop side, other times there are programs that are too substantial with the classics. Basically, I choose repertoire by the great composers that is well-known, as well as pieces that are a little less familiar to challenge the musicians." It is also about making classical music accessible. De Clara has broken down the stereotype of the silent, elitist conductor by electing to talk about pieces during concerts. There are also regularly scheduled pre-concert and post-concert talks. "Some people see symphonies as very elitist, which is wrong because music is for everyone," De Clara said. "Symphonies can touch a demographic from age one to over 85. I don't tell people what they should feel during a piece, because that is very individual." Bringing in renowned guest artists to perform familiar classics is another ace up SUBMITTED PHOTO MUSIC MAN: Roberto De Clara conducts the Oakville Symphony Orchestra in a past concert. De Clara is entering his eleventh season with the organization. He says the musicians are a major reason the orchestra is enjoying success. De Clara's sleeve. thrive. Donated funds are important to the "We've been in a stronger financial posi- OSO, as government funding, in this case tion the last little while, so we've brought from the Town, only makes up about four in Oakville or Canadian per cent of the orchesartists that have done very "We are working hard on tra's budget. well internationally, as advocating (for a renovated "Donations were up well as international Oakville Centre for the 34 per cent this year artists," he said. from our subscribers, Performing Arts) and I think Traffic on the QEW is which is wonderful," the town is interested in an additional factor workPangman said. ing in the group's favour, hearing how serious we There are a handful of according to Don are." individual tickets availPangman, OSO's board able for the concert sea Don Pangman, chair. son, which usually get "We had an e-mail snapped up quickly. OSO board chair from a subscriber of the Additional concerts, Oakville Symphony telling us she attends like the Young People's Concert and the concerts here because she doesn't want to Family Christmas events are also faring drive to Toronto anymore because the traf- well. Both of last year's Christmas shows fic is too heavy," Pangman said. "Many peo- sold out. ple have given up going to Toronto for The concert series consists of four conentertainment because they can see, in certs, each performed twice during a weekmany cases, the same thing here." end. There's currently a waiting list of Strong support from sponsors and indi- about 50 people for subscriptions for the vidual donors has also allowed the OSO to upcoming concert season. The OSO is in a tricky position as a result, according to De Clara and Pangman. There isn't enough demand to warrant a third concert for the subscription series, meaning the orchestra would lose money if it tried to book the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts for another performance. A third concert would also be too timeconsuming for the musicians, especially the volunteers that make up the bulk of the orchestra. Their schedules during performance weekends are already hectic, with Friday night and Saturday afternoon rehearsals. The solution put forward by Pangman and De Clara is renovating the hall where the OSO performs, which is the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. The building is not ideal for the orchestra, both in acoustics and size, they say. "From an artistic point of view, the orchestra cannot hear itself, the strings cannot hear the winds and vice versa, and when that happens, they basically go by the baton," De Clara said. "The theatre also lacks resonance, so the audience isn't getting the full acoustic impact of the orchestra." The subscription base for the orchestra is predominantly music lovers aged 55 and older. Pangman and De Clara say they are happy with this demographic, but would like to create programs to cultivate future audiences. "If we wanted to go after the young people, we would have to add a third concert and that is really expensive," Pangman said. "What we're looking at is the overall impact on our budget, on our volunteers and our professionals. It isn't possible at this time." Pangman said a renovated theatre with increased audience capacity would be ideal. Currently, the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts seats 500. "When it was built more than 30 years ago, our population was around 70,000 and now it is much higher than that," Pangman said. "We're using a theatre the same size as it was back in the '70s. I think we could use a hall with 1,000 seats. We are working hard on advocating and I think the Town is interested in hearing how serious we are." Pangman said he would like to see the community work together with Town Council to come up with the funds to renovate the centre. "The community needs to lead the charge," said Pangman. "If this is a community-driven effort, the Town will support it. We need a bigger and better Oakville Centre." For information on the OSO, go online to www.oakvillesymphony.com. For tickets, call the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts box office at 905-8152021 or order online at www.oakvillecentre.ca.