Dear PRISMA,

As we conclude another year, we wanted to share a few highlights and extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Members, Donors, Sponsors, Patrons, Audiences, Volunteers, Board Members, and dedicated staff. Your unwavering commitment and generosity have shaped PRISMA into the harmonious celebration it is. We also acknowledge the musical contributions of our Students and Guest Artists whose immense talents brought joy to so many in 2023.

Together, we are united through our collective support of the PRISMA Festival & Academy.

The 2023 PRISMA Festival (June 12-24) – the cornerstone of our 11th season – was home to over 50 unique offerings including six ticketed concerts, three free performances, 19 masterclasses, 18 Limelight Concerts and other delights for audiences of all ages. Highlights included an exquisite farewell performance by the Lafayette String Quartet; a spirited collaboration with Tla’amin Nation at PRISMA on the Beach; and masterworks such as Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite, Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B minor, Brahms’ Symphony No. 2, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major. Young fans got the chance to interact with musicians up close through multiple school visits, an open rehearsal, and a Kids’ Concert and Fun Fair. ProBus groups and festival-seekers relished the opportunity to participate in our Sail to the Symphony tour, resulting in our best-attended matinée concert to date.

Our 2023 PRISMA Festival Orchestra was comprised of 78 talented pre-professional musicians representing 16 countries by nationality and/or location of study. Among them were 11 familiar faces who returned from previous iterations of PRISMA. The level of musicians accepted into the PRISMA Academy continues to increase year after year, with students from Juilliard, Peabody, Oberlin, the Cleveland Institute and other top schools well-represented among our orchestra's ranks. Recruitment is now underway for PRISMA's 2024 season as we prepare to welcome the world to the qathet region once again, and also to Vancouver for the very first time. More on that below!

Year-In-Review

PRISMA announces academy expansion

Under this year’s expanded model, PRISMA students will now spend three days in Vancouver (June 13-15, 2024) for an immersion in expertise alongside artists from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and VSO School of Music before making their way to Powell River.

Musical Merit Fund - Giving Tuesday

We are sincerely grateful for the support received on Giving Tuesday (November 28) and in the weeks since. Donations to the Musical Merit Fund (MMF) on Giving Tuesday totalled $17,985 making it our most successful Giving Tuesday fundraiser. However, we still need additional support. Your continued generosity will help us in supporting our talented students.

Thank you for considering a donation to the Musical Merit Fund.

Donate Today

To learn more about the Musical Merit Fund download our Case For Support PDF.

It's not too late to make a transformative gift and help propel PRISMA into 2024, while maximizing your tax benefits for 2023!

Tourism Award

Earlier this year, we were honoured to receive the Powell River Chamber of Commerce Business Award for Tourism! This achievement is a testament to the unwavering support from our community and the dedication of our team. Thank you for being an integral part of our success as we continue to make a positive impact in Powell River's vibrant tourism landscape.

Dr. Jeanette Scott Receives Fellowship

In its fifth year of honouring key contributors, PRISMA awarded Dr. Jeanette Scott a fellowship for her exceptional dedication. A former educator and influential board member, Scott played a pivotal role in shaping and expanding the PRISMA for Kids (P4K) program. Recognized at our AGM this past February, Scott's hands-on efforts have fostered a broader appreciation for the arts, impacting both the community and the next generation of musicians.

Read the full story and explore other PRISMA Fellows here.

Looking Ahead

Cuore Piano Trio Concert

PRISMA is proud to collaborate with the Powell River Festival of the Performing Arts to bring the Cuore Piano Trio to the Powell River Recreation Complex on March 5th for a celebratory concert.

The ensemble will be touring BC in 2024 after the release of their debut album in January.

Tour Dates

2024 Guest Artists

Don't forget to visit our Guest Artist page where you will see the talented guest artists for the 2024 festival – including beloved violist Máté Szücs, former Principal Viola with the Berlin Philharmonic, who wowed PRISMA audiences back in 2018 with a performance of Berlioz' Harold in Italy with the PRISMA Festival Orchestra.

Guest Artists

Garneau String Quartet

This year's resident chamber music ensemble is the talented Garneau String Quartet. They will be joining us from Alberta where they are the Ensemble-in-Residence at MacEwan University Conservatory of Music in Edmonton.

Don't miss out on PRISMA in 2024

Tickets and passes for the 2024 PRISMA Festival (June 17-29) will go on sale in March, with a special head start – as always – for PRISMA members. Hear the works of Bernstein, Mahler, Ravel, Kodaly, Royer, Farkas, and more. Additional details will be announced soon.

Updates

We've Moved!

We recently moved our office to the Townsite Market. Our new location is located at 113-5831 Ash Ave (lower level, next to Townsite Fruit & Veg).

Our office hours are by appointment only at this time as we are undergoing renovations.

Annual General Meeting

Don't miss out on this opportunity to be a part of the PRISMA community at PRISMA Academy & Festival's Annual General Meeting! This year's event will take place at the elegant Carlson Loft on February 13th, with doors opening at 6:30 pm and the main program kicking off at 7:00 pm. RSVP information will be available in the new year.

PRISMA Staff Updates

We are thrilled to have Melanie Munroe as our new Executive Director. Melanie was previously our General Manager. We have also welcomed Garrett Holborn as our Marketing & Communications Manager and Erika Davies as our Membership & Office Administrator.

#FollowTheStudents

Taylor Fleshman - Performing at the White House

Congratulations to PRISMA 2018 & 2019 alumna (and 2018 Concerto Competition winner) Taylor Fleshman, who was named harpist of "The President's Own" United States Marine Band.

You can follow learn more about Taylor on her website here.

Serena Vanheuverswijn - Tours with André Rieu

PRISMA 2022 violin student Serena Vanheuverswijn (Netherlands) has been touring with the legendary André Rieu.

You can follow her career on her website here.

Tamara Dworetz - Conducting Appointment

Brava to PRISMA 2016 conducting student, Tamara Dworetz, who was named Music and Artistic Director of the Georgia Philharmonic and Director of Orchestral Studies at Georgia State University.

You can follow her career on her website here.

Maya Kilburn - Concerto Competition 2023 Winner

Our 2023 Concerto Competition winner, Maya Kilburn, attended PRISMA while on summer break from her studies at The Juilliard School. Her expressive performance of the technically challenging first movement of Bartok Violin Concerto No. 2 impressed the jury of PRISMA International Guest Artists.

We would also like to acknowledge the runner-up, Evan Pyne from Canada. He played the first movement of Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47.

Sponsors & Supporters

The PRISMA Festival & Academy would not be possible without the generosity of individuals and organizations in Powell River, British Columbia, and beyond. Their support comes to us in a variety of ways, from sponsorship to in-kind donations to annual subscriptions. Thank you!

Our team is hard at work on tax receipts for 2023 contributions. A complete list of 2023 donors will be included in our Annual Report in February and in a future edition of our e-newsletter.