This past weekend’s Strathcona Symphony Orchestra concert, Salute to the Silver Screen, featured the Canadian premiere of Gary Daverne’s Overture for the Academy.
Daverne, founder and music director of the Auckland Symphony Orchestra for 35 years, is one of New Zealand’s most honoured and recognized composers and conductors.
Having conducted many of the world’s leading orchestras, Daverne is also a record producer with one platinum and two gold records to his credit. In New Zealand, Daverne is known for his lifelong dedication to youth and music education.
Last year, he was awarded the prestigious Benny award, the highest entertainment industry prize that country can bestow on its artists.
In gathering music for the Salute to the Silver Screen concert, SSO conductor Pippa Williams contacted Daverne, who has composed many film scores for orchestra. Delighted with her inquiry on behalf of the Comox Valley’s own community orchestra, Daverne responded, “This work has never been performed in Canada.
“I have worked for many years with community orchestras. I find them more fun and rewarding than the many professional orchestras I have conducted.”
Daverne then sent the score and orchestra parts for his dramatic and colour-filled Overture for the Academy — with his compliments. “This was a rare and beautiful gift to our orchestra,” enthused Williams.
For more information about the SSO, visit http://strathconaorchestra.ca.
— Strathcona
Symphony Orchestra