The Bergthorson Academy of Musical Arts is looking for a talented troupe of musicians for the comic opera Iolanthe, set to play the ACT next year. It’s the first time the school will use live orchestration for a musical production that will feature 30 performers, aged 13 to 60. “Our cast will work closely with a 24-piece orchestra that will accompany them for their performance,” said music instructor Rayne Beveridg,e who will be working on Iolanthe with two other directors qualified in theatre and dance. Iolanthe, or The Peer and the Peri, is an opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. Iolanthe is a fairy who dared to marry a mortal man; banished from the dominion of the magical creatures, Iolanthe was forced to leave her husband and raised her son, Strephon, on her own. Years later, Strephon has fallen in love with Phyllis, whose guardian is the Lord Chancellor of the Court of Chancery. Phyllis is also enamoured of Strephon, but since he earns his living as a lowly sheep herder, the Lord Chancellor opposes their marriage. Wanting her son to be happy, Iolanthe conspires with her fairy friends to overcome the Lord Chancellor’s opposition but this leads to even further complications. Bergthorson is currently accepting applications from musicians with at least three years experience. Beveridge says the musicians must have a piece prepared for the audition that reflects their level of skill because the opera requires a high standard of musicianship. The instruments needed are: 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola, cello, bass, trumpet, trombone, French horn, flute, 1st and 2nd clarinets, oboe and percussion. Auditions will be held on June 20 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Application deadline is June 6. Rehearsals for Iolanthe will begin in September. The cost of the program is $5 per week to cover the expense of the rehearsal facility and the conductor Josh Dean.
• Call Rayne Beveridge at 604-716 3057 or the Bergthorson Academy of Musical Arts at 604-467-6613 to set your audition time.