Fort Henry was a blast!

The concerts at Fort Henry July 16 and 17 were a blast, to say the least! While Friday night’s weather was perfect, Saturday’s wind and hail storm threatened to shut down the evening completely. My podium almost blew away and the musicians’ chairs were water logged. Without the use of some drenched technical equipment, the orchestra was able to play “au naturale,” which created a balanced, acoustic sound that the musicians actually preferred. Some audience members commented on the orchestra’s sound and said they liked it better.

The cannons and fireworks capped off both evenings spectacularly and allowed the tradition of the 1812 Overture at the Fort to continue its legacy for another year.

To kick off the upcoming season, the orchestra will share the stage with pianist Janina Fialkowska, and premiere a brand new piece. “Two Centuries Later” will take the stage at the Grand Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 2:30 p.m. Help us celebrate the 200th anniversary of two musical masters – Chopin and Schumann – and usher in a modern-day master: Juno Award winning composer John Burge. I’ve just received the score for John’s new piece Prelude Variations, which is inspired by Chopin. I can’t wait to start working on it.

While the 2010-2011 season hasn’t commenced yet, we’re already planning the line up for my 21st season in 2011-2012. Now’s the time to let us know what you’d like to hear and which guest performers you’d like to see on stage with the orchestra.

I’ve got some tricks up my tuxedo sleeve – including Symphony No. 2 by Gustav Mahler, known as “the Resurrection.” It would be a huge undertaking, but a dream come true for me. The ninety-minute spectacle might be the event of the season in Kingston – and quite possibly the most memorable event of my career. We’re still looking at the feasibility of pulling off this mammoth mission. Stay tuned for more information.