Tickets for the July 4 Symphony on the Mountain concert, featuring the Symphony of the Kootenays atop Northstar Mountain, have been sold out for over a week.
But if you didn’t manage to get a ticket for this very unique event, fear not. While the evening show is sold out, tickets have been made available for the final rehearsal, also on the mountain, Saturday, July 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For only $30, you can ride up the chairlift and see the full dress rehearsal, and gain some special insight from conductor Jeff Faragher. Bring a picnic and enjoy.
The tickets for the dress rehearsal are available at Centre 64.
A special 32 by 40 foot stage has been built for the event by students at the College of the Rockies, under the guidance of instructor Mark Knutsgaard, of Kimberley.
The 16 section stage is already on the mountain top, having been transported up on trucks donated by Timbermart and Resorts of the Canadian Rockies.
After the Symphony, the stage will be donated to the community of Kimberley to replace the existing community stage, used for such events as JulyFest, First Saturdays, Spring Splash.
The entire event is a massive undertaking. There are 50 musicians, some coming from as far away as Montreal. All will need their instruments transported up the mountain and back down. The musicians will be billeted and will have to be fed.
The tampani drums and music stands have been donated and have been transported form Nelson.
Pulling it all together are some 30 volunteers, Jim Webster being one of them.
“People attending are encouraged to arrive early as we will need to get over 600 people up and down the mountain,” Webster said.
“We will have guides to take people off the mountain, as we are encouraging people to walk down, if they can. If everyone rides the chair it will take two hours to get everyone down. It’ll take an hour to get them loaded onto the chairlift and up the hill.
“We will be taking over 100 hay bales up the hill for additional seating. There will be no chairs provided so people are encourage to bring a blanket, or a folding, short legged festival style chair. Eight inch legs is preferable.”
Other tips: bring mosquito repellent; good walking shoes; a jacket; sunscreen, and water.
There will be food and refreshments available on the hill for purchase
The concert will last two hours performed by Symphony of the Kootenays under the direction of conductor Jeff Faragher. Following the concert the Kootenay Brass Quintet will perform while people are going off the hill.
Many local restaurants are already getting booked up for the weekend so it may be a good idea to make a reservation.