Orchestras Canada Blog
Both Marion and Gordon agreed that this is long, sustained and slow work. It required a transparency from the orchestra, sharing things that they weren’t used to sharing with outside groups. “We’re still in the truth part of Truth & Reconciliation,” Marion says. This is uncomfortable, but necessary work to do if true consultation and partnership is the genuine goal.
Ashley Martin, Regina Leader Post
The 2020-21 season has something for everyone — at least, that’s Gerrard’s hope.
“Part of the challenge and what I think is so interesting about the job is we have an orchestra that is designed to serve a very wide range of people, different audiences and different tastes,” said Gerrard.
Ashley Martin, Regina Leader Post
When Gordon Gerrard first heard about Missing, presented in November 2017 in Vancouver and Victoria, he immediately wanted to bring it to Regina.
“I felt strongly that it was a story that, well, frankly everybody in Canada needs to see and hear. And I thought we would do our best to try and make it happen in Regina,” said Gerrard, music director of the Regina Symphony Orchestra.
Ashley Martin, Regina Leader Post
“I’m super excited about it because I’ve never really worked with these instruments before, so at this point in my career, that’s not that often that that happens,” said Gerrard.
“So this is kind of a new adventure and the fact that there are four (guest artists) also, it just changes the dynamic.”
Ashley Martin, Regina Leader Post
“It just seemed like overwhelmingly (mental health) was on people’s minds and it seemed like now was the time to try and tackle what we can do to help bring this conversation forward,” said Gordon Gerrard, the RSO’s music director.
“One of the aims of Forward Currents is not to provide any sort of answers or ‘this is what we need to do or what we have to do,’ but really it’s to inspire conversation and to keep conversations moving forward.”
Madeline Kotzer, CBC News
“We’re really trying to broaden our reach and include more people in what I think is a life-changing and life-affirming art form,” he said. “To realize that some people assume, [classical music] is not for them, is disappointing to me. And it’s not on them to change, it’s on us to change that.”
CBC News, Saskatchewan
Gordon Gerrard, music director for the RSO, says it’s common for orchestras to have genre-themed festivals, but RSO wanted to do something different.
“I’ve always felt that there’s more to what an orchestra can offer than some people realize,” said Gerrard.
“So, we thought we would start a festival every year taking its theme from a different issue of social relevance in our community.”
Marsha Lederman, The Globe and Mail
“I think that will inevitably be on people’s minds,” says RSO music director Gordon Gerrard, whose original goal was to look at issues in the community and across the country that required open and frank discussion. “I think in light of the events of the past week, it’s become even more clear to us that we need to keep talking. And if we can help facilitate that then I feel like this festival is doing what we want it to do.”
Jeff DeDekker, Regina Leader Post
Heading toward the 18-month mark at the helm of the Regina Symphony Orchestra as its music director, Gordon Gerrard has been a busy, busy man.
Moving to Regina from his position with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Gerrard took over the reins in July 2016 after former music director Victor Sawa ended a 20-year association with the RSO. The 39-year-old Gerrard faced a daunting situation — he was taking over from a Regina legend and facing demanding expectations from both the RSO and its fan base.
Ashley Martin, Regina Leader Post
A partnership between the Regina Symphony Orchestra and MacKenzie Art Gallery, Forward Currents will feature a variety of Indigenous artists, including Knight, Toronto musician Jeremy Dutcher and mezzo-soprano Marion Newman. Writer Drew Hayden Taylor will host.
Gordon Gerrard, music director for the RSO, hopes to make this an annual festival, always with a socially relevant theme.
Future ideas include mental health, new Canadians and LGBT issues.
