Gordon Gerrard, conductor for the Regina Symphony Orchestra’s (RSO) Music on the Road tour, is excited to come to Estevan, the final location for the symphony’s tour of southern Saskatchewan. The tour, so far, has been a gratifying experience to the conductor, as the orchestra has already performed in Weyburn, Shaunavon and Yorkton, with a larger than usual complement of musicians performing in the tour. “We have 24 musicians on the road. This is something new for us. It’s nice to take a larger group than we normally do,” said Gerrard in an interview with the Mercury. “I’m excited to
come to Estevan. It’s been a thrill to me, all season, meeting new people. I’m curious to find out what people want to hear, and what kinds of music they enjoy.” Gerrard said that of the advantages of playing with a large ensemble is the richer, fuller sound more musicians create.
“There are more interesting ‘colours’ to the music, with different instruments. When it’s larger than a small group, we sound more like a full orchestra than just a chamber group,” said Gerrard. The program the RSO is bringing to Estevan is varied in its musical breadth. There are some tunes the
Gerrard described as “strictly classical stuff,” while in the second half of the production, he noted there will be pieces performed with “more of a pop flavour to it.” The performance will entail one of Mozart’s symphony pieces, Bertsein’s Overture to Candide and a medley of famous tunes from the South Pacific. “It will end with Rhapsody in Blue, which I’m playing on piano,” said Gerrard. “What I tried to do, when I designed the concert, was give a snapshot of the different styles of music we play and represent. Some of it will be familiar, and
people will recognize tunes in South Pacific. “Some will be less familiar, and maybe people will not have heard some of it before. It will give them a chance to both hear something new and something familiar.” Gerrard, a musician familiar with the Prairies being in Manitoba born and raised has had a wonderful time touring southern Saskatchewan. He has been looking forward to this tour since beginning his work with the RSO, this past August. “This is my first time in many of the communities
we’ve been visiting,” said Gerrard. “It’s part of our mandate to bring classical music to southern Saskatchewan.” Gerrard said that there are many people who don’t have the opportunity to travel all the way to Regina to see the RSO perform, and that it’s important the RSO provides those people opportunities where they live, to enjoy their performance. “I hope this remains a regular thing,” said Gerrard. “I’m eager to give people in smaller communities the opportunity to hear a real-life symphony orchestra, and see how they respond.”
