I'm happy to be invited to be the new Board Member for the New Orchestra Workshop (NOW) Society, as of the July 11, 2017 AGM!
The NOW Society began as a community initiative designed to support the vibrant community of Vancouver improvisers. At its formation, the Society presented a critical mass of musicians who gathered together, committed to expressing and presenting improvised creation and to elevating their art through sharing music with their community and on international stages. The founders of the Society included Lisle Ellis, Paul Cram, Paul Plimley, Gregg Simpson, and Ralph Eppel.
Since its establishment in 1977, leadership has incuded Gregg Simpson, Clyde Reed, Paul Plimley, Bruce Freedman, Graham Ord, Kate Hammet Vaughan, Don Druick, Roger Baird, and for the past few decades, Ron Samworth and Coat Cooke. Recently, in the spring of 2014, there was a decisive change in leadership when the Artistic Director Coat Cooke passed on artistic directorship of NOW Society to the capable hands of Lisa Cay Miller.
2017 marks the NOW Society’s 40th year! In addition to our regular programming, the Society looks forward to presenting a four-day interactive installation at the Roundhouse Community Center in November 2017!