West Coast Symphony Orchestra
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West Coast Symphony Orchestra
@westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
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The West Coast Symphony is a community orchestra of exceptional quality, dedicated to the performance of a wide variety of orchestral repertoire for audiences throughout the Vancouver area. View the 2025-2026 Season: https://westcoastsymphony.ca/concerts
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westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
Thank you also to Bryan Deans (our fearless leader) as always for the extra one million things you do.

Gracious thanks to our longtime venue Christ Church Cathedral for the incredibly beautiful and gorgeous sounding space making every concert special.

#orchestra
A photo of West Coast symphony standing in Christ Church Cathedral. The audience is shown a bit in the foreground.
November 25, 2025 at 12:15 AM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
Special shout out to our Front of House volunteers led by violinist Anita Zaenker and to George Whyte, our archival recording videographer. It takes a lot of dedication and teamwork to make all the parts of this orchestra function.
Anita Zaenker is on the far left in a yellow green sweater, standing with the 5 front of house volunteers. The hall is yet empty so this photo must have been taken in the calm before the storm of 400 people clamouring inside to hear our French Masterworks concert. George may look young but he is a madly skilled videographer with a cute accent that you cannot hear in this photo. He is wearing a blue tee shirt with his left hand touching his video camera and his left hand gesturing a hang loose sign. He is smiling, clean shaven and has a shortish haircut to his blonde hair. The photo was taking from the organ loft of Christ Church Cathedral.
November 25, 2025 at 12:15 AM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
What a pleasure it was to have Barry Tan as our piano soloist for French Masterworks under the masterful baton of Maestro Bujar Llapaj.

West Coast Symphony was thrilled and honoured to present such an exciting program to our wonderfully warm audience. Thank you for being there with us.
Maestro Bujar Llapaj stands with piano soloist Barry Tan in front of the violin section of the orchestra. Barry is the tall one and Bujar has the white bow tie. Beside them sits a 9 foot Steinway and Sons Piano. The setting is in the Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Vancouver Canada. Barry is holding a bouquet of flowers in his left hand which should probably be tried by now since he just played a whole concert using only his left hand, yes that one by Ravel. Barry is sitting at the grand piano but not touching it, the orchestra is poised behind him. You can almost hear the silent anticipation in the photo.
November 25, 2025 at 12:15 AM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
Caught up last night with our piano soloist Barry Tan for a fun chat. See you all on Saturday!
Watch: youtube.com/shorts/VDsqM... #classicalmusic
Barry Tan, renowned pianist, smiling, with a caption that reads: Meeting Barry Tan. He is wearing a blue sweater and looks goofy and cute. Behind his left shoulder is a flower decoration. The linked video includes an interview and performance clip.
November 14, 2025 at 8:48 PM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
Wow. When one of us (two in this case-Anita and Steven) has a birthday, West Coast does its “classic” rendition of the song. We thought they had forgotten—until this happened…

Props to Steven for deflecting the blow with a rip on Ravel’s Bolero (even kept with the French Masterworks theme lol).
🥳
November 13, 2025 at 8:19 PM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
Please come enjoy! Tickets to French Masterworks: www.eventbrite.com/e/french-mas...
#vancouverevents
Concert poster for Saturday's performance.
November 11, 2025 at 10:36 PM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
May we live to see the world come together with love instead of hate, so we can move on from our destructive patterns and build something beautiful from something tragic.
A grade 3 student's drawing. They have scrawled in primitive cursive the caption, "What if soldiers used baguettes instead of swords?" The drawing is of two Canadian soldiers facing each other wielding baguettes instead of weapons. A small Canadian flag is pictured in the background, as well as a small city and a sun and small fluffy clouds in the sky.
November 11, 2025 at 10:36 PM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
On this day of Remembrance, we meditate on the vast number of people affected by war. From direct physical losses to losing loved ones and family. In war everybody loses. How we recover and how we remember matters.
A closeup of a poppy pin displayed on the lapel of a jacket. These are worn traditionally around and on Remembrance Day in Canada (November 11th).
November 11, 2025 at 10:36 PM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
Of them all, Maurice Ravel's concerto shone most brightly and became the most acclaimed. A stunning piece, it gives the impression that there may be two or more hands playing it if one closes their eyes during a performance.
Maurice Ravel, the composer, here in portrait. He has white hair, dark eyebrows and a stern but soft expression. He is wearing a suit. This picture is black and white but maybe also sepia tones a bit.
November 11, 2025 at 10:36 PM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
When Paul Wittgenstein was wounded in the First World War it cost him, a concert pianist, his right arm. Undeterred after recovery he commissioned works exclusively for the left hand from many contemporary composers at the time.
Black and white photo of Paul Wittgenstein pictured sitting at a piano staring at the keys which he is touching with his left hand. He has glasses, is clean shaved and has a short buzz hair cut. He is wearing a suit with a striped tie. The picture faces his left side so you cannot see that he is missing his right arm from his injuries sustained in World War I
November 11, 2025 at 10:36 PM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
BONJOUR DEBUSSY! The flowing, rippling textures in La Mer wash over us, wave after wave. It is a work both stormy and calm like the many aspects of the sea.

Come hear this gorgeous music at our Nov 15th concert French Masterworks!

📍Christ Church Cathedral
🎟️ www.eventbrite.ca/e/french-mas... #yvr
November 7, 2025 at 5:56 PM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
NEXT CONCERT: French Masterworks
Saturday, November 15 at 8 PM
Christ Church Cathedral

Join Maestro Llapaj, the orchestra, and piano soloist Barry Tan as we journey through four French masterpieces in one unforgettable evening!

See program below:
Concert poster with a picture of the orchestra and Maestro Bujar Llapaj, Soloist Barry Tan and Assistant conductor. Details for the concert and a QR code are also displayed.
October 30, 2025 at 5:39 PM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
Cathy and Ken celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this past May 26th. A month later, Cathy suffered a debilitating stroke and on July 18th she passed away. Our hearts go out to Ken and their many friends. Cathy will be greatly missed by so many.
A framed portrait of Cathy where she is smiling standing in nature beside some small body of water, perhaps an inlet in the gulf islands.
October 21, 2025 at 9:38 PM
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For 14 years she was the “Front of the House” for the orchestra. She loved greeting and welcoming people attending our concerts, only relinquishing those duties when heart issues made it too difficult, but she still continued to support the orchestra from her seat in the audience at every concert.
Cathy's empty wheelchair at the concert, covered in flowers, in tribute to her well lived, love and happiness filled life. There are red roses, white roses, yellow roses, and purple blue white and pink hydrangeas. Her Wheel chair was blue. There is a portrait of her sitting on the chair at the center of the flowers.
October 21, 2025 at 9:38 PM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
Cathy became involved with the WCSO when Ken joined the French horn section in 2003. Although not a musician herself, she was very much a people person and really enjoyed being around all the other orchestra members and immersing herself in the orchestra family.
Our program insert from our first concert dedicated to Cathy. It reads as follows: IN MEMORIAM: CATHY PETRY Cathy Petry was born in New Westminster, BC in 1954. She married Ken on May 26, 1985. The next day they moved onto their sailboat. Avid sailors, they lived and breathed the live-aboard life style for 34 years while living at Heather Marina in False Creek here in Vancouver. They only moved ashore when Cathy lost her leg due to complications of Type 1 diabetes, which she had had since she was fifteen. Cathy became involved with the WCSO when Ken joined the French horn section in 2003. Although not a musician herself, she was very much a people person and really enjoyed being around all the other orchestra members and immersing herself in the orchestra family. For 14 years she was the “Front of the House” for the orchestra. She absolutely loved greeting and welcoming people attending our concerts! She only relinquished those duties when heart issues made it too difficult for her to continue, but she still continued to attend every concert and support the orchestra from her seat in the audience. WCSO president Bryan Deans recalls having the privilege of working beside Cathy, whose dedication was unmatched: “She and Ken were always the first to arrive, setting up the coffee, tea, and snacks for our guests, and generally ensuring that every detail was taken care of. Cathy was the first person audiences met - a warm, welcoming presence who handled every challenge with grace." Cathy and Ken celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this past May 26th. A month later, Cathy suffered a debilitating stroke and on July 18th she passed away. Our hearts go out to Ken and their many friends. Cathy will be greatly missed by so many.
October 21, 2025 at 9:38 PM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
Avid sailors, they lived and breathed the live-aboard life style for 34 years while living at Heather Marina in False Creek here in Vancouver. They only moved ashore when Cathy lost her leg due to complications of Type 1 diabetes, which she had had since she was fifteen.
Ken and Cathy Petry stand side by side in a phot fromed, dressed up for a symphony concert. Ken is wear a black tuxedo with a white shirt and black bowtie and Cathy is wearing a dark pruple sparkly dress. They seem very happy because of their smiling faces.
October 21, 2025 at 9:38 PM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
Our first concert this season was dedicated to Cathy Petry, a much loved member of the West Coast family.

IN MEMORIAM: CATHY PETRY

Cathy Petry was born in New Westminster, BC in 1954. She married Ken on May 26, 1985. The next day they moved onto their sailboat.
A happy woman sits in her wheelchair by the marina in Vancouver. Her name was Cathy Petry and she was an important member of our symphonic family.
October 21, 2025 at 9:38 PM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
Enjoy these highlights from A Night of Opera, our wonderful season opening concert featuring Chloé Hurst, soprano and Aaron Durand, baritone. 💐

Watch --> youtube.com/shorts/WJlqW...

Including clips from Mozart's The Magic Flute, Lehár's The Merry Widow and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci.

#classicalmusic
A photo still taken from the video linked in the post. Hightlights from recent concert. In the phot a soprno sings while looking into the eyes of a baritone singing at her. They are holding hands in front of an orchestra. The word "highlights!" headlines across the photo, serving as a cover photo for the video. The video was a little too big to upload on bluesky hence the link to youtube. The soprano is wearing a gorgeous pink gown with layered tresses cascading down. Around her waist is a black ribbon tied in a bow. The baritone is wearing a black tuxedo with a black tie.
October 16, 2025 at 10:00 PM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
What an absolute treat it was to play with Chloé Hurst and Aaron Durand and the audience was so welcoming and warm. The duo’s incredible voices and onstage charisma charmed us all!

A brilliant start to a shiny and exciting season for West Coast Symphony! Thank you all for being there!
#orchestra
soloists Chloe Hurst and Arron Durand pose for a photo together during intermission. She is wearing a gorgeous pink dress with cool tresses and he is wearing a black tuxedo. Chloe Hurst announcing what the next opera excerpt is about. The duo singing while holding hands. Pa pa pa duet by Mozart from the Magic Flute The soloists stand with flowers in their hands in front of the orchestra withe Conductor Bujar Lllapaj smiling in between them.
October 8, 2025 at 9:53 PM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
It’s hard work being West Coast’s resident poodle!

See you all tonight for A Night of Opera featuring soprano Chloé Hurst and baritone Aaron Durand of Opera 101 Vancouver.

🪄Maesto Bujar Llapaj
🪄Assistant Conductor Ethan Tong
📍Christ Church Cathedral 690 Burrard Street
🕗8pm TONIGHT!
October 4, 2025 at 11:48 PM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
In just a few days we officially open our season with A Night of Opera! Featuring the wonderfully talented Aaron Durand, Baritone and Chloé Hurst, Soprano singing a collection of works both fun and moving. Christ Church Cathedral Saturday October 4th at 8pm. Tix -> www.eventbrite.com/e/a-night-of...
October 1, 2025 at 11:49 PM
westcoastsymphony.bsky.social
ANNOUNCING: West Coast Symphony’s 2025-2026 Concert Season has begun! 🎶

First up: A Night of Opera - Oct 4th, 8pm at Christ Church Cathedral (690 Burrard) feat:
Chloé Hurst, Soprano
Aaron Durand, Baritone @halfwaymonk.bsky.social
Bujar Llapaj, Conductor
Tix: www.eventbrite.com/e/1573739169...
September 24, 2025 at 6:56 PM