FOR

IMMEDIATE RELEASE, May 22, 2015

CONTACT: Sarah Barton-Bridges, Toll-Free 1.855.577.4762; or communications@orchestra-academy.ca

Symphony concert tours come to Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland
Musical excursions set sail for Powell River

BCs own summer orchestra academy, the Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy (PRISMA), is extending its reach to
symphony music fans on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. For its third season from June 15th 27th in Powell River,
B.C., the festival is hosting three chartered concert tours: the annual Symphony Cruise from Vancouver Island and the all-new
Symphony by the Sea, with two cruise options from Vancouver. In addition, the academy welcomes famous Canadian cellist
Amanda Forsyth to its team of world-renowned guest artists and presents a historic tribute this year.

The festival, established in 2012, is an opportunity for enthusiastic young musicians to prepare for a position in a professional
orchestra. PRISMAs vision is to be a premier North American summer music school, attracting students by merit and patrons by
the quality of the program to Powell River, a city rich in cultural and musical tradition. The 2015 season has received a record
number of 162 applicants from around the world. The selected students will come together to form the Pacific Philharmonic with
first-rate guest faculty members from varied backgrounds and orchestras. For the Concerto Competition, three finalists will
perform as soloists during the concert on June 20th in front of an expert panel of judges led by world-renowned PRISMA Music
Director and Moscow Symphony Orchestra Conductor Arthur Arnold. The first-prize winner will be invited to play for one week
with the MSO in Russia.

To extend the PRISMA experience to fans outside of Powell River, PRISMA is pleased to introduce the Symphony by the Sea Concert
Tour, in addition to the annual Symphony Cruise from Vancouver Island. The Symphony by the Sea Concert Tour will offer two
cruise package options: a day cruise and an overnight cruise. On the morning of Saturday, June 20th, the Symphony by the Sea Day
Cruise Tour will depart from the Plaza of Nations Dock in Vancouver and the Symphony Cruise will depart from Comox. The
Vancouver day cruise provides breakfast onboard while en route to Powell River. Audience members on board both cruises will be
shuttled to the Evergreen Theatre to enjoy the matinee symphony orchestra concert at 1:30 pm. The three most talented 2015
students will play solo with the Pacific Philharmonic, and, afterward, the audience will have the opportunity to vote on a recipient
of the $500 Audience Choice award. During the return trip on the Vancouver cruise, a light meal will be served.

The second Vancouver cruise, the overnight cruise option, brings patrons to Powell River for the annual Celebration of the Senses
on Wednesday, June 17th: a free, open-air community event and concert featuring local musicians, food concession, art, and a
historic tribute to the life of Anne Frank in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Dutch Liberation. This overnight cruise
includes lunch onboard, overnight accommodation in Powell River at the Town Centre Hotel or Beach Gardens Resort, breakfast,
return cruise on June 18th and lunch before arriving back in Vancouver. PRISMA is partnering with the Anne Frank House and
School District 47 to present the Anne FrankA History for Today exhibit in commemoration of the Dutch Liberation 70 years ago
at this important event. At A Celebration of the Senses, PRISMA will present Two CountriesOne Spirit alongside the Anne Frank
exhibit. The event will include speeches by Dutch and Canadian dignitaries, a flight show, and, of course, live music by the Pacific
Philharmonic. The HMCS Whitehorse will anchor nearby, and, during the Overture 1812 by Tchaikovsky, real cannons will be fired
from the beach. The Honourable Judith Guichon, OBC, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia is PRISMAs Honourary Patron and
will attend the June 17th event.

These events will feature PRISMAs newest star guest artist, Amanda Forsyth, who became a protg of William Pleeth in London
and later studied with Harvey Shapiro at the Juilliard School. After two seasons with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Ms. Forsyth
became the youngest principal ever selected by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, a post she occupied for six years. She was
then appointed principal cello of the National Arts Centre Orchestra in 1998. The Sun-Sentinel calls Ms. Forsyth a big, burnished
timbre who banished comparisons.

Interviews: Maestro Arthur Arnold is available for phone or Skype interviews, contact info@arthurarnold.com. More information,
photos and quotes can be found at http://orchestra-academy.ca/vancouvercruise.

"We came to Powell River from Toronto in Juneand happened upon PRISMA last year. We love it! It is wonderful to see all these
young musiciansand how happy and enthusiastic they are.



2014 PRISMA Audience Member