March 2025 – Vancouver Island Symphony, Favourite Composers, Episode 2
Heather Walker is a professional horn player and a core member of the Vancouver Island Symphony, based in Nanaimo, B.C. Join her for this upcoming concert at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo on Saturday March 8th and the Sid Williams Theatre in Courtenay on Sunday March 9th. more information: https://vancouverislandsymphony.com/
With a great response from last season Maestra Justo Valdés brings back Favourite Composers. In Episode 2 the orchestra plays Mozart, Haydn and Ravel. VIS member Mark D’Angelo performs Vivian Fung’s Trumpet Concerto, a virtuosic tour-de-force displaying the capabilities of the Eb Trumpet and Flugelhorn.
CONDUCTOR: Cosette Justo Valdés
GUEST ARTISTS: Mark D’Angelo Trumpet
PROGRAMME
MOZART Le Nozze di Figaro
RAVEL Le Tombeau de Couperin
Vivian FUNG Concerto for Trumpet
When not performing music professionally, Heather teaches the Alexander Technique, a method for becoming aware of harmful movement habits and posture and re-learning how to move with ease and efficiency. Heather teaches private sessions, group classes, and introductory workshops. Please contact her for more information at 250-716-3464.
February 2025 – Kamloops Symphony: Duparc, Mendelssohn, Wagner
Heather Walker is a professional horn player and a long-time performer with the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra. Enjoy the next KSO concert on Saturday February 8th in Kamloops and Sunday February 9th in Salmon Arm. more info: https://www.kamloopssymphony.com
Witness a rising Canadian star shine! Elisabeth St-Gelais probes the emotional depths of Wagner’s reflection of unrequited love and longing. Then take a journey across Scotland’s misty highlands in Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3.
Featuring
Dina Gilbert, conductor
Elisabeth St-Gelais, Innu soprano
PROGRAMME
Bacewicz: Concerto for String Orchestra
Duparc: Phidylé
Wagner: Wesendonck Lieder
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3, “Scottish”
Heather Walker is also a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique. Please contact her to find out how the technique can help you change tension, bad posture, and inefficient movement habits for the better.
January 2025 – Vancouver Island Symphony: Morlock, Beethoven, Mendelssohn
Heather Walker is a professional horn player and a core member of the Vancouver Island symphony. Join the symphony for their upcoming show: Second Guessed: Unpublished, Unfinished. SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2025 | 5:00 pm or 7:30 pm | Port Theatre, Nanaimo and SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2025 | 2:00 PM | Sid Williams Theatre, Courtenay
Second Guessed: Unpublished, Unfinished: VIS shares the hidden treasures in these works, offering a glimpse into the creative process of the composers. It is fascinating to think about the stories behind these pieces and why they were not finished, remained unpublished or not performed during the composer’s life… yet they have become beloved pieces in the orchestral repertoire.
CONDUCTOR: Cosette Justo Valdés
PROGRAMME
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 10
Jocelyn MORLOCK Interloper
Charles IVES The Unanswered Question
Felix MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 4 “Italiana”
When not playing music professionally, Heather teaches the Alexander Technique, a unique method for movement and postural re-education. Please contact her for more information about the technique.
January 2025 – The Who and Led Zepplin with Kamloops Symphony
Heather Walker is a professional horn player and a frequent performer with the Kamloops symphony. Start off the new year with this special concert!
The Who & Led Zeppelin
Friday & Saturday, January 10 & 11, 2025 | 7:30 pm
Sagebrush Theatre
1300 9th Avenue, Kamloops
Featuring
David Bui, guest conductor
Jeans ‘n Classics: David Blamires, vocalist; Dave Dunlop, guitar; Steve Lucas, bass; Jeff Christmas, drummer; Steve Holowitz, keyboards
Get set for an electrifying evening at the Sagebrush theatre with the legendary anthems of The who & Led Zeppelin. Feel the beat of Baba O’Riley, the grit of Black Dog, and the timeless allure of Stairway to Heaven. Join us for a night where the spirit of rock meets the power of a full symphonic orchestra, brought to life by Kamloops favourites, Jeans ‘n Classics.
When not performing music professionally, Heather teaches the Alexander Technique, a method for becoming aware of harmful movement habits and posture and re-learning how to move with ease and efficiency. Heather teaches private sessions, group classes, and introductory workshops. Please contact her for more information at 250-716-3464.
December 2024 – Christmas with the Kamloops Symphony & Chorus
Heather Walker is a professional horn player and a frequent performer with the Kamloops Symphony. Friday & Saturday, December 13 & 14, 7:30 PM, Sunday December 15th, 2:00 PM, kid’s show and relaxed performance, Sagebrush Theatre, Kamloops.
The cherished holiday tradition returns to warm our hearts and lift our spirits. Join us for an unforgettable evening of joyful holiday classics, the angelic voices of the KSMS Children’s Chorus, and your favourite carol sing-alongs.
Featuring
Maria Fuller, conductor
Anika Howell, soprano
KSO Chorus, Tomas Bijok chorusmaster
KSMS Children’s Chorus, Rachel Casponi conductor
Heather Walker is also a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique. Please contact her to find out how the technique can help you change tension, bad posture, and inefficient movement habits for the better.
November 2024 – Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue with Vancouver Island Symphony
Join Heather as she performs horn with the Vancouver Island Symphony on November 16th.
American composer Gershwin brought jazz and classical music lovers together. We celebrate Rhapsody in Blue’s 100th Anniversary featuring Kevin Cole , who is considered by critics and colleagues as the best performer of Gershwin after Gershwin.
CONDUCTOR: Cosette Justo Valdés, GUEST ARTIST: Kevin Cole Piano
PROGRAMME: GERSHWIN – Cuban Overture, Catfish Row : Symphonic Suite from “Porgy and Bess”, Girl Crazy (arr. Don Rose), “I Got Rhythm” Variations, and Rhapsody in Blue
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2024, 7:30 pm | Port Theatre, Nanaimo
PRE-CONCERT TALKS: 6:30 PM
Heather Walker is a horn player and core member of the Vancouver Island Symphony. When not performing music professionally, Heather teaches the Alexander Technique, a method of movement awareness and re-education. The Alexander Technique helps individuals understand how their body is designed for ease and efficiency of movement, and with careful retraining it can change movement patterns and reduce postural problems, pain, repetitive strain injuries, and tension problems. For more information about the technique, contact Heather at 250-716-3464.
Oct./Nov. 2024 – J. Strauss’ Operetta “Die Fledermaus” with Vancouver Opera
Heather Walker is a professional horn player and a core member of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. She will be performing in Johann Strauss’s famous operetta “Die Fledermaus” this fall.
Composer – Johann Strauss II
Libretto by Karl Haffner and Richard Genée
DATES October 26 – November 3, 2024, Queen Elizabeth Theatre Vancouver, BC
RUNNING TIME Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including one intermission.
Join the party: Strauss’ most-beloved operetta kicks off a celebratory 65th anniversary with laughter and mischief. With a title that translates to “The Bat” (sometimes even presented as “The Revenge of the Bat”), you’d be forgiven for expecting some ominous dark fluttering while gravel-strafed voices say intense things indecipherably. But with its huge chorus, boisterous party scene, and rousing songs like “King Champagne”, Strauss’ beloved operetta absolutely radiates charm, wit, and good-natured mischief! An audience favourite since its 1874 premiere, Die Fledermaus remains the most-performed operetta in the world for good reason. This vaudeville and farce-inspired comedy masterwork revels in effervescent odes to drinking, dancing, dining, laughing, and, well, more drinking, while a madcap plot pinballs through masquerade and mistaken identities, romantic dalliances, pranks and payback. Ashlie Corcoran returns to direct her second Vancouver Opera season opener in a row, having helmed the fantastical Magic Flute in 2023, while the high-spirited score is conducted by Vancouver Opera Music Director Jacques Lacombe. (Sharp-eyed audience members might recognize some special guests during the gala scene…but we’ll say no more for now!)
When not performing music professionally, Heather teaches the Alexander Technique, a method for becoming aware of harmful movement habits and posture and re-learning how to move with ease and efficiency. Heather teaches private sessions, group classes, and introductory workshops. Please contact her for more information at 250-716-3464.
October 2024 – Vancouver Island Symphony, Dvorak and Tchaikovsky
Heather Walker is a professional horn player and a core member of the Vancouver Island Symphony. Join her in the theatre as the symphony launches it’s 24/25 season! Heather is also a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique. Please contact her to find out how the technique can help you change tension, bad posture, and inefficient movement habits for the better.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2024
7:30 pm | Port Theatre, Nanaimo
PRE-CONCERT TALKS: 6:30 PM
We launch the Symphony’s 30th “Pearl” Anniversary Season with the popular Dvořák Cello Concerto, featuring guest cellist and composer, Sointu Aalto . Tchaikovsky’s most famous Symphony No. 6, known as The Pathétique, was originally named The Passionate.
CONDUCTOR: Cosette Justo Valdés
GUEST ARTISTS: Sointu Aalto Cello
Paige Pierce, Nanaimo Youth Poet Laureate
PROGRAMME
DVOŘÁK Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191
Sointu AALTO uni vers uni World Premiere
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6, op.74 in B minor “The Pathétique”
Heather is also a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique.
September 2024 – Kamloops Symphony with Pianist Jean-Michel Blais
Heather Walker is a professional horn player and a regular member of the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra. She’s looking forward to the 24/25 season opening concert with Pianist Jean-Michel Blais and conductor Dina Gilbert. If you’re in Kamloops, please join us!
A once-in-a-lifetime concert with the critically acclaimed Canadian pianist. Legendary composers like Debussy, Britten, Vivaldi, Rachmaninov, and more meet Blais’ own globally-celebrated works— a transformative musical experience not to be missed! Works by Debussy, Satie, Britten, Vivaldi, Rachmaninov, Tiersen, Yanni, Smetana, Anna Clyne, and original works by Jean-Michel Blais.
Saturday, September 28, 2024 | 7:30 pm
Sagebrush Theatre, 1300 9th Avenue, Kamloops
Sunday, September 29, 2024 | 3:00 pm
The Nexus at First, 450 Okanagan Avenue SE, Salmon Arm
When not performing music professionally, Heather teaches the Alexander Technique, a method of movement awareness and re-education. The Alexander Technique helps individuals understand how their body is designed for ease and efficiency of movement, and with careful retraining it can change movement patterns and reduce postural problems, pain, repetitive strain injuries, and tension problems. For more information about the technique, contact Heather at 250-716-3464.
August 2024 – Vancouver Island Symphony at the Parksville Beach Fest
On Parksville Beach Festival’s final day don’t miss the opportunity to experience live orchestral music at the Parksville Outdoor Theatre, Sunday August 18th at 4:00 PM.
The Vancouver Island Symphony under the direction of Concertmaster Calvin Dyck as Guest Conductor returns to the Parksville Outdoor Theatre with a program that is perfect for a summer day in the park. Highlights include the visceral strength of Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5”, the enchanting Viennese waltzes from Strauss “Blue Danube” and swashbuckling music from “The Pirates of the Caribbean” along with other orchestral favourites.
Tickets available for purchase on line or in person at the McMillan Arts Centre (MAC) – 133 McMillan Street, Parksville, BC V9P 2H5. In person ticket sales at the MAC will close at 3pm Saturday August 17. Tickets can be purchased at the Gate starting at 3pm day of concert.
Ticket pricing:
Adult $45 + GST, Students (13-18) $10 + GST, Children (12 & under accompanied by an adult)
For more information: https://www.parksvillebeachfest.ca/event/symphony-by-the-sea-featuring-the-vancouver-island-symphony/
Heather Walker is a horn player and core member of the Vancouver Island Symphony. When not performing music professionally, Heather teaches the Alexander Technique, a method of movement awareness and re-education. The Alexander Technique helps individuals understand how their body is designed for ease and efficiency of movement, and with careful retraining it can change movement patterns and reduce postural problems, pain, repetitive strain injuries, and tension problems. For more information about the technique, contact Heather at 250-716-3464.