The show will go on in 2021.
Following a tough year, the spotlight is being put on Okanagan valley artists with the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society鈥檚 new Focus online series.
Premiering Thursday, Jan. 21, the series will stream online local talent every two weeks for free to introduce VDPAC鈥檚 development of online programming.
A total of 22 artists will be featured in this first series, including local Julliard trained opera singer Melina Schein; singer-songwriter Shaughnessy; singer, multi-instrumentalist performer and producer Jodie B; classical guitarist Manfred Harter; fashion designer Jill Setah; and new wave artist HaidenLaird.
鈥淲hen COVID kiboshed my performance career, I didn鈥檛 know when I鈥檇 see the stage again,鈥� said Schein, well-known to Vernon audiences. 鈥淭he arts have been one of the hardest-hit industries and we still can鈥檛 see the light. I鈥檓 so grateful to the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre for creating work for performers during these unprecedented times and offering a beautiful opportunity to make art again. Spending the afternoon performing/recording filled my cup and helped me to remember where my heart is and why I do what I do.鈥�
Creative digital performance is becoming the new normal for theatres across the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by the performing arts industry, one of the most affected by the suspension of live performance - and the VDPAC did not hesitate to develop its own means to produce digital content. Two digital PTZ (pan tilt zoom) cameras were purchased along with state-of-the-art live-streaming and audio console equipment in preparation for recording professional HD-quality videos with digital sound for the Focus series. Over 35 Okanagan artists submitted audition videos in response to an initial call for artists in August. Those chosen by the adjudicators for this first wave were invited to record in the newly upgraded Marie Fleming Studio, with larger groups performing socially distanced on VDPAC鈥檚 main stage. Recordings began in November and will resume in January 2021.
鈥淒uring COVID we had to pivot from working artists from around Canada and the world - to focus into a purely local lens. The Okanagan is such an artistically rich and diverse community. The Focus online series has been a great opportunity to work with such incredibly talented artists! We feel so lucky to live and work here in the Okanagan,鈥� artistic director Erin Kennedy said.
鈥淭hroughout this terrible pandemic, we have remained positive, despite this long interruption of live public performances,鈥� VDPAC鈥檚 executive director Jim Harding said. 鈥淲e have taken advantage of this time to find ways to work within current restrictions and found valuable sources of financial support to help us develop and now add online programming to our means of presenting performing arts. We plan to continue this development even once live performances can return and are now exploring ways in which both live and live-streamed or pre-recorded programming can complement each other in the future, as either medium offers different perspectives on performance that can be just as inspiring and fulfilling.鈥�
鈥淭he new equipment purchased to allow us to handle these new events and projects are a full live video production system (NewTek Tricaster 410Plus) currently featuring two HD PTZ Cameras and one 4K capable compact camcorder with plans to expand to even more cameras in the near future鈥� technical director Rylee Block said. 鈥淎n audio multi-track recording solution capable of recording 48 individual tracks simultaneously, and a brand new audio console (Digico S31) which can function as a dedicated broadcast desk to allow us to carefully mix and monitor two separate audio feeds: one for a live audience and the other for a digital one simultaneously to ensure that regardless of whether a patron is in our house or theirs, they are getting the pristine, professional sound they expect to hear from our shows.鈥�
This summer鈥檚 conversion and upgrade of its Marie Fleming Hall, re-purposed it as the Marie Fleming Studio. Replacement of original sound baffling panels and addition of theatrical drapes to dramatically improve its acoustics and a colour-scheme change more conducive to theatrical lighting has transformed the space into a professional recording and small live event studio. VDPAC will make the MFS available for commercial, public and individual artists鈥� bookings for HD video and sound recording sessions, including music, online presentations, classes and podcasts.
Links will be posted on Ticket Seller, Facebook and Instagram.
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