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Friday, October 6, 2017 A21
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Paula DeWit of the White Rock Community Orchestra has been nominated for the Heinz Unger 2017 Award.
Heinz Unger Award nomination means more to conductor than some may realize
DeWit up for national award in her career. It has raised her self confidence, something that Paula DeWit – conductor of was lacking for many years. the White Rock Community DeWit joined the Canadian Orchestra and co-founder of Armed Forces in 1984 hoping the Chilliwack Symphony Or- one day she’d be the first female chestra – has been nominated conductor, but it wasn’t long for a national music award. before her life went downhill. A few weeks ago, she received She suffered major trauma an email from the Ontario Arts during basic training which Council informing her that started her decline into depresshe made the list for the Heinz sion. That was followed by a haUnger 2017 Award. rassment case – which she won. She had heard about the She left the armed forces in award before, but was suprised 1994, but “I came out very dewhen she looked it up. pressed and not want“It’s a prestigious Ca- ❝I’m not doing ing to leave my house. nadian award. It’s not a music to be I had agoraphobia for glorified, Mickey Mouse award,” a while.” I’m doing it Years passed. She besaid DeWit. “It’s just not anybody nominat- because the came a mother of two, music just but still had agoraphoing anybody, there is a bleeds through bia. real process here.” “It was so bad that I She announced it on my veins.❞ Facebook and Bram- Paula DeWit knew if I didn’t leave conductor well Tovey (music directhis house, I was in troutor with the Vancouver ble,” she said. Symphony Orchestra) comDeWit decided to join the mented with “Congratulations! Chilliwack Festival Chorus. That’s a big deal.” At the first rehearsal, she was According to information on- “in a state of major panic, (but) line, the Heinz Unger Award as soon as I started singing, I aims “to encourage and high- started to feel a little bit comlight the career of a young to fortable.” mid-career Canadian conducHer fears began to subside. tor… who has begun to estab- She’d sing three-part harmolish and make an impact in his/ nies over here, and help out with her chosen field.” the tenors over there. She was “Somebody’s watching me, back in her element and she was which is mind-boggling,” said happy, “then I’d get home and DeWit, adding she’s “in shock, I’m like a zombie again.” humbled and honoured.” When it was concert time, “You devote yourself to the DeWit would face the audience, music, and you pour yourself but no words came out. into the music, and then you’re “The anxiety just overtook driven by this music that’s me.” Soon after, she and her then poured through your veins,” she said. “I’m not doing music to be husband started Chilliwack’s orglorified, I’m doing it because chestra – the late maestro John the music just bleeds through van Liempt and DeWit founded my veins. I have no other option the CSO in 1999. – if the music stops, I would stop She played trumpet, but she being. That’s what gets me up knew she wasn’t performing to in the morning.” her fullest ability. When it came The nomination is a huge step to showtime, the anxiety still
took over. After the passing of van Liempt, and after many years of feeling “diminished, not worthy, low self-esteem,” DeWit took the conducting course at Capilano College. “I was tired of people telling me I’m not good enough and I thought (school) would help give me some confidence.” And it did – slowly. In 2012, after the CSO’s conductor resigned, the board asked DeWit to step up. Though she was still anxious, she took the job, and it was then that a shift startied to happen. “It gets easier and easier. Now it’s to the point where I’m okay once I’ve been in a venue for a while,” she said. “I have a long way to go. I feel safe in my own community now – I can conduct here and it’s okay.” In 2016 she extended her musical environment further when the board of the White Rock Community Orchestra appointed her director of the four decades-old ensemble, succeeding Stuart Martin, who left to pursue an opportunity in the U.S. She now splits her time between the two orchestras and other conducting assignments. She said the anxiety can still arise “even though I’m confident enough that somebody saw what I’m doing in this community and thought I deserved an award.” And it’s all because of the music. “Music has saved my life,” said DeWit. “The future looks promising.” The WRCO’s next major performance will be its Dec. 2 concert at St. John’s Presbyterian Church. For more information on the organization and upcoming appearances, visit whiterockcommunityorchestra.org or wrco.ca
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