“When you think of a Philharmonic, you think of a huge entity, lots and lots of strings and winds that form [a] symphonic orchestra. But the word Philharmonic simply means the love of making harmony, the love of harmony. So that’s why it’s a little bit tongue-in-cheek, if you will, calling it the Muskoka Philharmonic because it appears that it’s huge, but it really is just the love of harmony and harmony in the sense of music. And we take it a little bit further as the harmony is a sense of collaboration and moving together and begin at an intermediate to advanced level, and then we just take it from there,” said Artistic Director & Conductor Alana Nuedling in a recent interview with Huntsville Doppler.
She pointed out the distinctive, unique characteristics that make up the Muskoka Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO), a growing volunteer group of musicians who have nurtured “a safe space for musicians [of intermediate to advanced skill levels], to be included in the process of building our strong foundation, and freely sharing their love of live music performance.”
On Sunday, November 24, 2024, the MPO will present its Season Two opening concert. “Winter’s Awakening,” at 4 p.m. at Trinity United Church. The show features an exciting mix of classical and modern compositions, including seasonal favourites and a guest performance of “Ave Maria” by Huntsville’s gifted operatic soloist, Amy Wallace. Additionally, the concert will highlight the Muskoka Philharmonic Singers (an eight-piece pop-up choir), the Huntsville Public School Choir, and the DaCapo Youth String Ensemble. Online tickets have sold out. Organizers can now only offer tickets at the door for Sunday’s concert.
Founded in November 1, 2022, by wife and musician duo Alana & Anna Nuedling, the MPO was initially inspired by a desire to create orchestral music in Muskoka and to provide an opportunity for musicians of various skill levels to participate in a program designed to encourage players to work together in the area rather than travelling, often great distances, to play in a similar setting. The goal of the orchestra is to provide local audiences with a chance to experience live classical music at a reasonable price while introducing a wide array of musical expressions from classical, show tunes, jazz, and soundtrack scores.
In its two-year history, the orchestra has grown from seven to twenty-nine players and is actively recruiting. June 2023 marked their introductory concert to an eager audience. In their 2024/2025 season, the MPO will give five concerts with separate programs: ‘Whimsical Musings’ on March 1 and 2, 2025, and ‘Strawberry Moon’ on June 14 in Gravenhurst and June 15 in Huntsville.
“We do three sets of concerts. This one, unfortunately, the venue sort of vanished on me. So, we’re only doing one concert on the 24th, but typically we do two on a concert weekend. So, it’ll be the Saturday night somewhere in Muskoka and the Sunday is always at Trinity United in Huntsville, from four o’clock ’til six,” explained Nuedling. Rehearsals are held every two weeks in Utterson, where, over a sixteen-week period, the programs are rehearsed to perfection.
Nuedling has worked in Huntsville as a music teacher primarily at Huntsville Public School since 2024. She created a children’s band that went to the Nationals, earning a silver medal. She possesses a rich educational background in Music Education and is a Certified Life Coach. After eighteen years in the public school system, she now operates The Hive On East Elliott with her wife Anna.
Anna Nuedling is also the lead solo violinist in the MPO, as well as a key architect for the orchestra and music partner who assists in sourcing and selecting materials suited to the playing abilities in the current ensemble.
Along with the Muskoka Philharmonic, Alana also directs The Rock Singers, a hundred voice, local rock choir, accompanied by local musicians Sean Cotton, Michael Phillips and more. They will perform, ‘Don’t Stop Believin ‘’at the Algonquin Theatre on December 14,2024.
Conducting programs of such diverse and emotionally charged material, ranging from Beethoven to Dvorak, ‘Somewhere In My Memory’ (from Home Alone) to ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire,’ requires a steady hand, but moreover a definitive focused energy, passion and love. Complex instrumental arrangements, with a twenty-piece orchestra, along with choral harmony and featured guests, is a massive undertaking, but the MPO’s intentions are clear – provide a local musical and positive entertainment for the family and serious classical devotees. A rare, memorable occasion for music development in the Huntsville and Muskoka area.
“So, the one in November is always called ‘Winter’s Awakening,’ and we start with moody kind of music that would be fall music. It’s a bit heavier, a bit sleepy, a bit stormier and then we move into some of the classics for Christmas and then some of the more fun things for the holiday seasons, not necessarily Christmas, but for the winter season. Last year was the first time we had called it ‘Winter’s Awakening.’ We went into the concert and there was no snow and when we came out it was snowing hard, so we literally had woken winter up, which was a nice little touch,’ noted Nuedling.
The Muskoka Philharmonic Orchestra, inspired by and devoted to the love of music, with a core belief in the values of collaboration as foundational and intrinsic to its ability to grow and attract fellow musicians, is not only a bold new example of the musical fervour found in Huntsville, but it is a lasting testament to the love of two people to create and build a music legacy for the future.
You can find more information HERE.
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