Dear friends,

Thank you, once again, for your generous and enthusiastic support as Symphony Nova Scotia continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the past few months, we’ve been intensively planning our long-awaited return to the concert hall. We’ve been eagerly looking forward to bringing our orchestra back together in our newly renovated home venue at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, and to start sharing the joy, power, and excitement of live symphonic music with you again.

However, as yesterday’s Public Health announcement showed, we remain in an ever-changing situation. For us, this has meant an ongoing commitment to flexible scheduling, shorter time frames between announcements and events, careful financial management, and a focus on smaller, safer activities throughout our communities. We also remain fully committed to respecting our province’s public health experts, and to keeping our audiences, employees, and community safe.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR FALL SEASON?

While we’re still excitedly planning our return to the concert hall, our public season will once again start a little later than usual, after the planned Phase 5 reopening in October. The lineup will also include some of our most popular programs from our reimagined 2020/21 season, including multiple activities that can still proceed in the case of extended restrictions. And again, safety will remain our top priority: all our activities will strictly adhere to public health restrictions and proof of vaccination policies, and masks will remain mandatory for all attendees throughout the season.

As we look ahead to the fall, here are a few highlights:

• Symphony Week and Culture Days – We’ll officially kick off the season with our 14th annual Symphony Week of free activities, including online events and community concerts.
• Welcome to Halifax, Holly! – For the first time since the start of the pandemic, our Music Director Holly Mathieson joins us here in Nova Scotia to lead our orchestra in rehearsals, performances, and community outreach.
• Full Orchestra Concerts – Rediscover your full orchestra this fall! As restrictions permit, Symphony Nova Scotia will present a condensed series of socially distanced performances at our main venues in Halifax.
• Compact Community Concerts – Smaller groups of Symphony Nova Scotia musicians will continue to share shortened, socially distanced concerts for live audiences in accessible venues throughout Halifax and beyond.
• The Fusion Sessions – Our hit online series returns! We welcome back popular local artists from some of our best-loved concerts for intimate online sessions with groups of Symphony Nova Scotia musicians.
• ‘Twas the Night Before Nutcracker – After being postponed due to restrictions in 2020, this new online-only “Nutcracker in a Nutshell” experience for families will return this holiday season. We remain optimistic about returning to the concert hall for a full Nutcracker in December 2022.
• Symphonic Saturday Brunch – Back by popular demand! Sit back and enjoy a delicious and musical brunch at The Carleton with small ensembles from Symphony Nova Scotia.
• Enough Room: A Music Learning Project – Symphony Nova Scotia’s artistic leaders discuss issues around diversity, inclusivity, and expanding our collective musical horizons in this ongoing podcast series.
• Education and Outreach – Symphony Nova Scotia continues to work with local partners and educators to present interactive, engaging learning experiences for all ages.
• The Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra – Nova Scotia’s finest Symphony of young people continues a full slate of intensive pre-professional activities, including workshops, rehearsals, performances, and coaching – all with detailed safety protocols in place.

WHEN WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SIGN UP?

Please stay tuned for in-depth updates about our fall and spring plans, including final dates, modified shows in the newly renovated Cohn, registration information, and safety precautions. You’ll find the latest news on our website at symphonynovascotia.ca, as well as in our weekly email newsletter and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We look forward to sharing details with you soon! We also continue to welcome your thoughts and comments – please email us anytime at [email protected].

Symphony Nova Scotia is your orchestra, and we can’t wait to start sharing symphonic music with you again.

See you soon!

Christopher Wilkinson, CEO
Symphony Nova Scotia