Strathcona Symphony Orchestra

05/14/2026

The SSO musicians had a blast this season and we want to thank our community and local sponsors for their support.

Next season starts in September (we are going to do a Disney tribute as part of our December concert).

Enjoy the photos taken by Frank Soos and his daughter, Coleen at our last concert on May 3rd at the Campbell River Baptist Church.

05/05/2026

Blaine Waldbauer, SSO Concertmaster and Music Director for Hello Strings! will be conducting the amateur string ensemble on Saturday, May 9th, 7:00 pm, at the Comox United Church, 250 Beach Dr, Comox.

Cash donations for the concert are gladly accepted at the door on the performance date.

05/03/2026

Oh, What a Night!

Four Standing Ovations at Last Night’s Strathcona Symphony Orchestra Concert!

Today is your last chance to experience an amazing performance by Victoria Symphony’s concertmaster, Terence Tam, and his interpretation of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64, accompanied by the Strathcona Symphony Orchestra (SSO).

There is nothing like a live musical event, especially when you can enjoy one of the renowned violinists in Canada play a beloved concerto which is one of the greats in the classical music repertoire.

It’s going to be a beautiful Sunday, so why not treat yourself and watch your community orchestra accompany Terence as well as play a collection of pieces, based on storytelling and magic, at the Campbell River Baptist Church.

If you love percussion, there are some epic sections in the concert where Ram Sudama makes some noise with timpani drums. What a rush!

Concert time today is 3 pm and the Baptist Church is located at 260 South Dogwood Street in Campbell River. Tickets are available online at the SSO website, https://strathcona-symphony-orchestra.tickit.ca/, or at the Baptist Church.

05/01/2026

One more sleep until the Strathcona Symphony Orchestra’s weekend of music!

The Strathcona Symphony Orchestra (SSO) musicians want to thank their sponsors and concertgoers for supporting their local community orchestra and purchasing tickets to The Magic of Music performances on Saturday evening (7 pm) May 2, at the Filberg Centre (we are sold out) and Sunday afternoon (3 pm) at the Campbell River Baptist Church. This venue seats 800 people (!) and we are humming along with ticket sales.

Tickets can be purchased for the Campbell River concert at the SSO website, https://strathcona-symphony-orchestra.tickit.ca/, or at the Baptist Church on the day of the concert.

Instead of driving to Victoria, audiences can enjoy Victoria Symphony’s concertmaster, Terence Tam, perform Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64. This concerto is a beloved piece of music and is celebrated for its lyrical beauty.

We are so excited to play for you this weekend!

04/29/2026

Strathcona Symphony Orchestra’s guest soloist, Terence Tam, is on FIRE at our final rehearsal before this weekend’s concert dates

The Strathcona Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is proud and excited to present Victoria Symphony’s concertmaster, Terence Tam, and his upcoming performance of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64.

Although the May 2nd SSO concert, The Magic of Music, is completely sold out at Courtenay’s Filberg Centre, there are still tickets available for Sunday afternoon at the Campbell River Baptist Church, on May 3rd at 3:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the SSO website, https://strathcona-symphony-orchestra.tickit.ca/, or at the door of the Baptist Church on the day of the concert.

During the orchestra’s Monday evening rehearsal in North Island Distance Education School’s gymnasium, Terence rehearsed the Mendelssohn piece by memory with the SSO, and we were spellbound with his command of the violin and interpretation of such a beautiful piece of music.

Imagine seeing Terence and the SSO play at the Baptist Church with first-rate acoustics and lighting – this is an exciting event that is going to be the highlight of our 2025/26 season.

Thank you for supporting your local orchestra and we hope to see you this weekend!

04/24/2026

The Strathcona Symphony Orchestra Is Getting Close to Being SOLD OUT on the Saturday, May 2nd, Performance at Courtenay’s Filberg Centre

Thinking of attending the Strathcona Symphony Orchestra’s (SSO) final concert for the 2025/26 season?

Want to experience the exhilarating live performance of Victoria Symphony’s concertmaster, Terence Tam, playing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64, without fighting the Malahat traffic?

Buy your tickets to your local symphony today and enjoy a seat at the event, which aims to be the highlight of the SSO’s classical music season.

Tickets for The Magic of Music concert are available on the SSO website, https://strathcona-symphony-orchestra.tickit.ca/, for both the Saturday evening concert on May 2nd (7 pm, Filberg Centre, Courtenay) and Sunday afternoon, May 3rd (3 pm, Campbell River Baptist Church).

Thank you for supporting your local orchestra!

04/23/2026

Introducing Natalie Mindell, Violist with the Strathcona Symphony Orchestra

Natalie Mindell is one of the Strathcona Symphony Orchestra’s (SSO) younger musicians, joining the orchestra at 11 years old.

Now a Grade 10 student at GP Vanier Secondary School, Natalie joined the SSO when her older sister, Claire, decided to become a member.

“I thought the orchestra experience would be fun,” said Natalie. “I love playing music, and the experience of playing as a group really interested me.”

When asked why she chose the viola, Natalie said, “I originally started playing the cello, but switched instruments when my sister became a better cello player (Claire was chosen to be part of the National Youth Orchestra in 2025). I wanted to forge my own musical path.”

“When I play in front of an audience, I really enjoy the positive reaction from them,” she said.

In 2005, Blaine Waldbauer and Michele and Tom Morton, had a vision for a community orchestra which would encompass players from the Comox Valley to Campbell River catchment areas. They started the SSO, and it now has a membership of over 70 musicians, spanning a wide range of ages, playing abilities, and musical knowledge.

Please join us and listen to Natalie and other SSO musicians play The Magic of Music concerts on Saturday, May 2 @ 7 pm (Filberg Centre, Courtenay) and Sunday, May 3 @ 3 pm (Campbell River Baptist Church). Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under and are available for purchase on the SSO website, https://strathcona-symphony-orchestra.tickit.ca/.

Special musical guest, Terence Tam, Victoria Symphony’s concertmaster, will also perform Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64, an event that will surely cap off a successful concert season.

Watch your neighbours, friends, and family play their final concert for the 2025/26 season.

We thank you for your support!

04/22/2026

Check out today's papers, the Comox Valley Record and the Campbell River Mirror.

Our piece on the May concert was published in both papers (online and physical).

We can't share the link to the e-editions because of Canadian news content laws, but you can search for papers online (or pick up a physical copy). Look at pages, Comox Valley Record (A18) and Campbell River Mirror (A19) for the article.

Looking forward to seeing you at one of our concerts, Saturday, May 2 @ 7pm (Filberg Centre, Courtenay) and Sunday, May 3 @ 3pm (Campbell River Baptist Church). Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under and are available for purchase on the SSO website, https://strathcona-symphony-orchestra.tickit.ca/.

Strathcona Symphony Orchestra, community orchestra located in the Comox Valley, BC

04/21/2026