PRISMA takes place June 13 – 29, 2024, in Vancouver and Powell River, British Columbia – on the beautiful West Coast of Canada – a stunning rural setting where the mountains meet the sea.
-June 13-16, 2024, will take place in Vancouver, BC, the largest city in Western Canada.
-June 17-29, 2024, will take place in Powell River, BC, an inspiring rural oasis.
Our in-depth orchestral training program is designed to provide advanced students and young professionals with the essential tools to win a position in a professional orchestra. Masterclasses, workshops, private lessons, mock auditions, rehearsals, and performances bridge the education students receive at a university/conservatory and the professional life of an orchestra musician.
PRISMA’s 2024 orchestra program will feature Bernstein’s Westside Story Symphonic Dances, Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, and great masterworks by Ravel, Kodaly, Royer, Farkas, and more, charismatically led by artistic director Arthur Arnold, former music director and conductor of the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. Our esteemed Guest Artists are musicians from some of the world’s leading orchestras, such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, LA Philharmonic, Montreal Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, and New York Philharmonic, among others. Students will work with the guest artists on a daily basis.
Since 2012, we’ve mentored over 749 students from 46 countries, helping many to jump-start their careers and win positions in professional orchestras.
Mentorship From a Professional Orchestra
Your PRISMA journey begins with a 3-day in-depth experience with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. All PRISMA students will rehearse in the PRISMA Festival Orchestra on the stage of the VSO in the Orpheum and at the University of British Columbia. 10 students will be invited to play in a VSO rehearsal and concert. Musicians from the VSO will be mentoring PRISMA students during sectional rehearsals.
String Quartet in Residence Program
Elevate your chamber music experience and take center stage at the heart of musical excellence with the PRISMA String Quartet in Residence program! If you’re part of a passionate quartet seeking to refine your skills and receive invaluable mentorship from seasoned professionals, this is your opportunity. Our esteemed program offers not only the guidance of world-class musicians but also a platform for you to showcase your talent.
The string quartet in residence will perform in limelight concerts, during PRISMA for Kids concerts, in masterclass and receive private mentoring from the Garneau String Quartet. All members of the string quartet in residence will join the PRISMA Festival Orchestra.
Join the ranks of our distinguished alumni, including the Concordia String Quartet from Singapore (2022) and Trio Cuore from Poland (2023). Now is your chance to shine!
To apply, visit Acceptd and choose the program: PRISMA: 16 String Quartet in Residence. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary musical journey – apply today and let your quartet’s harmonies resonate on the grand stage of PRISMA!
“My time at PRISMA was filled with learning and excitement from world class musicians. I especially loved how the festival includes the Tla’amin Nation by building community and striving towards reconciliation.”
“As I stepped out of school into the professional orchestra world, my time in PRISMA was crucial. It provided me not only an enriching learning experience, but also fulfilling performance experiences as we actively engaged in the Powell River community. The people including my host family were very welcoming and supportive. It brought back my original vision and purpose of being a musician. Great meals by the chef and the indescribable beauty of the surroundings were a bonus. I am grateful for all the opportunities and support.”
“I can’t say enough good things about PRISMA. It was one of the most inspiring times of my life. I expected to play some great music, but I didn’t expect the overwhelming feeling of connection and raw emotion performing with Maestro Arnold and the friends with whom I became very close. It was such a unique experience. It was in many ways the most enjoyable two weeks I’ve had in a very long time.”
All students perform in the PRISMA Festival Orchestra conducted by Arthur Arnold, former Music Director & Conductor of the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. Two symphony programs provide players with a broad experience in orchestral playing and musical interpretation. The 2024 repertoire* will include:
• Bernstein – Westside Story Symphonic Dances
• Mahler – Symphony No. 5
• Ravel– Bolero
• Kodaly- Dances of Galanta
• Farkas – Romanian Dances from Bihar
• Royer – Rhapsody Concerto
* repertoire subject to change
PRISMA offers ample performance opportunities, from large symphony orchestra concerts to intimate chamber music and solo recitals. Students are invited to all guest artist concerts. Select students may be invited to take part in these concerts.
PRISMA also hosts a free outdoor community event known as PRISMA on the Beach, featuring food, local crafts and of course, performances by the PRISMA Festival Orchestra. At PRISMA, we find it essential to give back to our community. There are plenty of opportunities for you to be involved in local music-making for people in the community that cannot otherwise come to the concert hall.
PRISMA’s annual Concerto Competition provides young, talented instrumentalists with an opportunity to showcase their musical prowess.
PRISMA 2024 Concerto Competition will be divided into two categories: a Strings Category, which includes violin, viola, cello, double bass, and harp, and Others Category, which includes flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, French horn, trombone, and percussion.
Ten participants will be selected from the Preselection round and will perform with piano accompaniment during the Competition Round for a supportive audience.
Both categories will have a winner who will be a soloist with the PRISMA Festival Orchestra during the final two concerts.
The winner from each category will receive a prize of $1000 CAD and will be invited back to next year’s PRISMA on a full scholarship.
The winner of the Audience Favourite Award will receive a prize of $500 CAD.
To view the Competition rules, please visit this page.
Preparation for a successful orchestra audition is an important aspect of the PRISMA program. Students play a live audition behind a screen and also have an opportunity to sit on the jury panel. Our Guest Artists, consisting of musicians who have principal positions in world-renowned orchestras, mentor students in excerpt classes, private lessons and masterclasses to become more comfortable with the process of auditioning.
Far more important than the specific result of an audition will be the experience of auditioning itself. Being a member of the jury will give students the opportunity to experience the other side, which will improve their own presentation/performance in future auditions. Students should prepare five (5) standard excerpts prior to PRISMA.
Learn from our renowned Guest Artists – principal players and soloists with the Berlin Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, LA Phil, Montreal Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, New York Philharmonic & more.
Students play solo pieces and listen to their colleagues play during public masterclasses. PRISMA participants receive dedicated support through one-on-one lessons with their Guest Artist instructors. In the private lessons, students work on selected repertoire, concertos and orchestral excerpts.
The sectional rehearsals at PRISMA are unique. All Guest Artists of an orchestra section are present at the rehearsal and address the instrument-specific challenges directly with the students in their section.
This provides you with an opportunity to ask any instrument-specific questions you may have, in a supportive and engaging environment.
Interested students may be chosen to take part in chamber music groups. Public performance opportunities are available, such as our daily Limelight Concerts with opportunities to perform solo or chamber music works for afternoon audiences.
PRISMA offers students professional development and life coaching with a focus on maintaining personal well-being. Through our Making a Life as a Musician series, students will join our experienced Guest Artists for roundtable discussions on topics ranging from workplace ethics and etiquette to overcoming stage fright to balancing family commitments. This is your chance to seek answers to all your burning questions from people who have seen and heard it all!
Orchestra conductors can apply to study at PRISMA. They will assist Maestro Arthur Arnold with rehearsals and have opportunities to lead the PRISMA Festival Orchestra. The assistant conductors will lead sectional rehearsals (woodwinds and brass) and conduct the full orchestra in front of an audience during the conducting masterclass. Occasionally, they will be invited to conduct during the main orchestra rehearsals, with feedback provided by Maestro Arnold. During the second week, the assistant conductors will rehearse the orchestra daily in preparation for the Concerto Competition finals. They will conduct the competition finals during the second-week symphony concerts.
Luthier Laura Wallace will be present daily at PRISMA around lunch time for consultation, and for complimentary adjustments and advice for your instrument setup. In addition, repairs and bow rehairing can be done. Students will receive a 15% discount on strings.
For more information about Laura, please visit her website.
PRISMA strives to be one of the world’s premier symphony orchestra academies by attracting music students of the highest merit. We recognize that doing so requires competitive tuition fees and ample scholarship opportunities to ensure that socio-economic barriers are not standing in the way of musical goals. Click here to learn more.
