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ANOTHER POWELL RIVER FESTIVAL SUCCESS STORY
Bor�ka Barab�s Borb�la is the leader of the viola section in the Targu Mures State Philharmonic Orchestra in Romania. She was a student at the summer music festival in Powell River in 2004. While conducting this orchestra, PRISMA Music Director Arthur Arnold was surprised to see one of his former Powell River festival students as leader of the viola group. He asked her about her experiences in Powell River. Here are some of Bor�ka's observations.
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"I heard about this music camp in Powell River. I'd never been in Canada and I was very interested in what the program had to offer. I remember being quite nervous about getting a visa for Canada and wasn't even sure whether I would even get it. I was so happy when it came ... I enjoyed it very, very much."
"It was one of my most helpful experiences for my career for what I'm doing now ... It the only camp I know that is fully specialized towards orchestra playing. I absolutely needed that for what I'm doing now."
"In Powell River I learned how to organize myself [for the audition], how to practice and prepare myself. There I learned how to perform your excerpts well. There were so many incredible musicians who shared their experience. You need precision, technical precision. In order to get the job the rhythm and timing needs to be perfect. I also learned to not to put so much of my own feelings in the excerpts. It has to be absolutely after the metronome. The music has to be exactly what the part dictates. In my concerto and in Bach I can show myself, my musicality, but in these excerpts you know, I have to show that I know how to play it right."
"In Powell River I studied with the solo viola player from Los Angeles Philharmonic. He was very strict in how to play in an orchestra. I kept in mind for my own audition. I prepared myself as good as I could. I learned a lot in Powell River. SOAP gave me the tools and I followed the advice of the teachers. I still remember one of the faculty saying: 'why wouldn't you do this, why wouldn't you become violist in, for example, the Concertgebouw.' It gave me the confidence to go for it."
"[Playing for the audience in Powell River,] I remember sitting in the orchestra and from the back I heard the sounds of the principal cello of the Concertgebouw Orchestra and of the Chicago Philharmonic. They were sitting behind me. They just took me from my back. I felt the push of their energy. I will never forget this. The energy on stage was amazing."
"In Powell River I learned the right technique for playing in the orchestra. Everything was ready for the performance. Then it all came together and the music started flowing. It was so strong. I have never had that same feeling. Not before and not after."
"[After I left Powell River] there was this position for solo viola in Targu Mures. I thought why not give it a try. So I played." According to Bor�ka, quite a few people auditioned for the position. She was overwhelmed with happiness when she won the job; even other orchestra members shared with her how amazed they were that she came so well prepared.
"I absolutely recommend music students to go to PRISMA. What I learned in Powell River was really specialized to what I needed to get my orchestra job. You know, it's not so easy to become a fine orchestra player. It takes a lot of dedication and hard work. What I learned in Powell River was a key factor to get where I am."
"Looking back from where I am now in life I would suggest that anyone who is serious about getting an orchestra job should go to PRISMA in Powell River. That's for sure! It's very, very helpful for your career. And even if you're not sure about your future you should come to enjoy the great and helpful experience."
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