The Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra’s (RMSO) fifth season will be significantly different compared to previous years as Alberta Health Services (AHS) guidelines are incorporated to keep musicians and patrons safe.
“We’re really looking for different ways to deliver a music experience,” said Music Director Carlos Foggin.
RMSO’s fifth season is tentatively scheduled to start in October. The Balzac-based orchestra, which operates out of the Polaris Centre for the Performing Arts near CrossIron Mills mall, was created by Foggin in 2016 with the intent of bringing classical music to smaller communities in the Calgary area, including Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, High River and Strathmore.
RMSO consists of 45 people, exceeding the current limit of fifteen people allowed to gather indoors. This prevents RMSO from performing as an orchestra. Even if those limits are further relaxed, Foggin said the logistics of having a large enough stage to adequately space the musicians presents a challenge.
"We would need twelve meters in front of the brass players and eight meters in front of the wind players, and two meters between all the string players,” he said. “Essentially we would need something almost as big as a high school gym."
As a result, Foggin said RMSO will perform music written for trios and quartets during its upcoming season.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also changed which instruments will be used by RMSO – only string instruments will be played during its fifth season.
"The research isn't there to know how dangerous a flute or a trumpet is because [those musicians] can't work and they obviously can't wear a mask," Foggin said. "String players, if we put them two meters apart, we're good to go. But wind players and brass players, they're not in the clear yet."
Like other non-essential services, RMSO was shut down in March because of the pandemic, and the remainder of their fourth season was cancelled.
Kristin Flores, a violinist with the orchestra, recalled getting her music ready for their first rehearsal of an upcoming April concert when everything came to a sudden stop.
"It was just done," she said, adding that the cancelled concert will likely be performed at the end of the upcoming season.
Before completely shutting down, the orchestra made use of their empty stage at the Polaris Centre by live streaming performances from two to three musicians in what was called the Band Together Project. According to Foggin, RMSO was one of the first organizations in the country to start live streaming performances.
“We broadcast every night from the Polaris Centre stage,” he said. “Unfortunately, we later had to close the doors because it was a commercial space, but it allowed other large groups like the CBC and Calgary Arts Development to pick up the baton after we bowed out.”
The Polaris Centre has been quick to recognize the importance of live streaming performances, Foggin said, and is installing a new live streaming system.
“We would normally be able to seat about 200 people at the concert, but with restrictions, I’m sure we won’t be able to have more than 50 people in a room,” he said, adding RMSO will have tickets available for live streaming performances in their fifth season.
Despite these added challenges, Flores said it will be a relief when the orchestra gets the go-ahead to resume.
“It will be so fun when we all come together again to play,” she said.
Foggin added RMSO is relying on larger organizations like Orchestras Canada and the American League of Orchestras for guidance, and will continue with string-only concerts for as long as it takes.
Kate Mackenzie, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @katefmack
