Annual PRISMA Festival and Academy returns to Powell River from June 12 to 24

Event lineup includes ferry sail-symphony combination, music by the sea, kid’s fun fair, and more

SPONSORED POST BY Prisma Festival

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The annual PRISMA Festival & Academy, which unites world-renowned guest artists with top international students for musical mentorship and exploration by the sea, is taking place from June 12 to 24 in Powell River.

Under the artistic direction of its co-founder Arthur Arnold, PRISMA—which stands for Pacific Region International Summer Music Association—is now in its 11th year. An exciting orchestra repertoire is on the festival’s concert lineup at the Evergreen Theatre, including Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite, Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B minor, Brahms’s Symphony No. 2, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major: “Titan.”

Daily masterclasses and Limelight Concerts will take place throughout the event between 1:30 pm and 5 pm. From solo tuba to chamber music ensembles, each 30-minute concert featuring the students will be curated by a different guest artist or member of the PRISMA Festival Orchestra.

This year’s class of PRISMA students come from some of the top music programs in the world, including The Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, Eastman School of Music, and the Cleveland Institute. Their awe-inspiring talent is supported at PRISMA by the Musical Merit Fund, which allows generous donors from Powell River, Vancouver, and beyond to underwrite the cost of a student’s tuition, lodging, and meals.

Meanwhile, the roster of international guest artists hail from renowned orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, Montréal Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and Victoria Symphony.

Notable events on the festival calendar include PRISMA on the Beach, a free seaside spectacle on June 17 at 6 pm where families can bring lawn chairs and blankets to relax and listen to music; the Sail to the Symphony tour on June 24, which links Powell River to Vancouver Island through PRISMA’s presenting sponsor BC Ferries; and a concert on June 13 by the acclaimed all-female Lafayette String Quartet, who are on their farewell tour after 36 years performing.

Also anticipated is PRISMA for Kids on June 20—an entire day devoted to sharing music with young fans. Students from School District 47 Powell River get to watch an instructed rehearsal in the morning, and in the evening, a concert and fair will feature a musical storytime in partnership with the local library, ice cream, face-painting, and a petting zoo of string instruments.

Full festival details and tickets are available here.

Post sponsored by PRISMA Festival.