HISTORY 

The Cowichan Consort Orchestra was founded in September 1991, organized by Robert Fox, John Evans, Joy Ann Bannerman, and Ian Gregory. The first rehearsal took place on October 22,1991 at Woodmere on Maple Bay Road with John Evans as conductor. Bannerman’s initial musician list held 41 local musicians she had met as the Cowichan Valley was ripe for the start of a community orchestra. Fox was the first Manager and laid out the debut concert for April 11th 1992 at Brentwood College featuring the Fauré Requiem sung by the Duncan Choral Society accompanied by the Orchestra with Evans conducting. The following week two daytime school concerts conducted by Bannerman were presented in School District #79.
 

September 1992 brought Jean-Marie Kent to the podium. At age 23 and fresh with a Masters degree in conducting, she moved the orchestra from its beginnings to a greater depth of repertoire and concert styles. Her passion for each piece was contagious for the orchestra and the audiences. She formed the Cowichan Philharmonic Choir (now the Cowichan Consort Choir) in 1995 so large choral – orchestral works could be performed such as Handel’s Messiah. She began the concerto competition for young local artists which continues each year.

Notable highlights during Kent’s 9 years with the orchestra were the Opera Extravaganza with the Three Divas, Musikaleidoscope with 175 students from School District #79 on stage performing excerpts from classical masterpieces, presenting Menotti’s full opera Amahl and the Night Visitors featuring boy soprano Philippe Granger as Amahl, and Kent’s Finale Concert featuring Mendelssohn’s Reformation Symphony.

Duncan Frater accepted the conductor position with Kent’s departure to New York City and the orchestra was put in capable hands with his Masters in conducting background as well. Frater commenced the 10th Season with the Consort’s third bi-annual Strauss Masked Ball orchestra fundraiser at Arbutus Ridge Golf and Country Club and four more concerts in the 2001-02 season. Highlights were the Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue Concert featuring the Consort Choir’s resident accompanist Dwight Siemens, Opera Favourites 2003 Concert featuring soloists Rachel Perkyns, Colleen Ball, Bill Kelly, and Douglas Sharp. Haydn’s Creation with Betty Allison and Ken Lavigne, and a program featuring Allison Arends soprano, offering Mozart followed by Dvorak’s Eighth Symphony.

 

After nine years with the Consort, Mr Frater is now in Victoria and our 20th Season’s conductor search established Robert Mari as Conductor-Music Director. With the Consort since 2011, Mr Mari, holding a Masters of Music and several Doctorate studies in conducting, continued to delight audiences and the Consort musicians with his exciting programming. A huge highlight was Verdi’s Requiem with with Benjamin Butterfield, Betty Allison, Gary Relyea, and Anne Relyea, performed twice, once in Duncan and also in Nanaimo, with a combined choir of Cow.Consort and Malaspina Choir members. In August 2021, Mr Mari announced his retirement from conducting. We thank him for his dedication and high energy to our Consort’s musical direction.

 

Erica Phare-Bergh guest conducted Gounod’s St Cecilia Mass April 23, 2022. We were so happy to share live music again with our audience with the Pandemic having interrupted our ‘delayed ‘ 30th Season.  Joy Ann Bannerman conducted during the interim for Fall 2021. The new Conductor for the Consort was announced and Nathan Jacklin of Victoria started Feb 28th 2022. But he moved to Switzerland in July 2023, so we began our conductor search once again and we are happy to announce that Pippa Williams is our new resident Conductor/Musical Director. We welcome Pippa to our podium.

​

Sue Doughty has been our designated Choir Rehearsal Conductor but retired in June 2023. Our Rehearsal Choir Director for 2023-24 was Marnie Setka-Mooney. The new rehearsal director for choir 2024-25 is now recent U Vic music grad Ryan Qu. Since 1991 Joy Ann Bannerman has been assistant orchestra conductor. Concerts are performed at the Christian Reformed Church or the Cowichan Community Centre Theatre with the fundraiser Strauss Ball at Arbutus Ridge. The Concerto Competition held each year results in a Vancouver Island young musician receiving a chance to perform with the orchestra and also receive a bursary. The Monday night orchestra and Wednesday evening choir rehearsals are held weekly in Sylvan United Church, Mill Bay. New musicians are welcome.

​

Performing a widely varied program of music mainly from the classical literature, the orchestra and choir give a fresh challenge to their members with each concert. Wind players can only join when the chairs are available, and string players at a conservatory level grade 7 or higher are all welcome. New choir members are also welcome, especially men, with our season usually running September to first week of May. One evening in late May/June on alternate years, a variety of Ensembles formed from the Consort membership, have performed at Sylvan United Church for all to enjoy. We will follow the Prov.Health regulations as the pandemic wains.

​

Click Here for the major choral works presented each season since 1995’s first season of Choir and Orchestra. Orchestra only concerts since the 1991-92 first Season, choir only concerts, and smaller choral works with orchestra are not listed. Each year the Consort presents from 3 to 5 concerts.