Message from the Premier
Congratulations to the esteemed Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra (NSO) on the launch of their 2024-2025 season. The NSO remains a cornerstone of Newfoundland and Labrador’s cultural arts scene, captivating with diverse programming that embraces pop culture, broadening appeal across generations. In 2023-24, the NSO engaged communities by offering in-school and virtual programs for students and free online concerts for seniors, enriching lives through music. As they begin this new season, the NSO honours maestro Marc David for his remarkable 30-year career, shaping the orchestra’s legacy and leaving a lasting impact on Newfoundland and Labrador’s cultural landscape. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador proudly supports the NSO, recognizing its pivotal role in enriching our province’s arts and culture sector.
Message from the Mayor
On behalf of the City of St. John’s, I extend warm greetings to the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra as you embark on your 2024/2025 season with the inspiring theme of “Resonance.” This season holds special significance as you celebrate the remarkable 30-year career of Maestro Marc David. His dedication, passion, and leadership have left a lasting mark on the NSO, resonating deeply with audiences in our city and beyond. The arts play a crucial role in enriching our lives, fostering creativity, and bringing people together. The NSO’s commitment to delivering exceptional musical experiences reflects the vibrant cultural landscape we’re fortunate to have in St. John’s. Your performances not only entertain but also inspire and uplift, creating lasting moments. As we celebrate this milestone season, my sincere gratitude goes to the musicians, staff, volunteers, and supporters of the NSO. Your tireless efforts ensure the symphony thrives and resonates with audiences of all ages. I’m confident that this season will be filled with memorable performances that leave a lasting impact. Congratulations to Maestro Marc David on his illustrious career, and best wishes to the NSO for a successful and resonant 2024/2025 season.
Joan Marie J. Aylward, O.N.L., B.N., R.N. Lieutenant Governor of NL
Danny Breen Mayor of St. John’s
Message from the Lieutenant Governor
As Honorary Patron, it is my pleasure to extend best wishes to the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra for the 2024/2025 season. Once again, the NSO will delight audiences with a season full of performances for many different musical tastes. This year’s theme is “Resonance”. Indeed, the NSO resonates throughout our province and contributes much to our rich artistic culture. Now with 84 members, the NSO has come a long way since its inception as a fledgling ensemble in 1962. This season also marks the final one for Principal Conductor Maestro Marc David. For 30 years the Orchestra has been guided by his steady hand. We join with you in celebrating his contributions, and his leadership with the NSO. Thank you Maestro Marc David for all the joy you have brought for audiences over your years with the NSO. I hope you will enjoy each performance this year. To the musicians, staff, crew, and all who play a part within the NSO, I wish you the best for your season, which I am confident will resonate with pride for audiences throughout the province. We are so proud of you, and we celebrate your continued success as you begin your new season in the Year of the Arts. Bravo!
Hon. Dr. Andrew Furey Premier
FALL POPS: HALLOWE’EN SPOOKTACULAR
Friday, October 25, 2024 • St. John’s Arts & Culture Centre presented by NTV
Marc David, conductor
Original script: “Something Wicked” written by Kyle McDavid Kristina Bernardo, soloist
Emma Harrington • Megan Harrington • Charlotte Harris • Elliott Lambe • Grace Ryan • Riley Sesk • Freya Steffen
PROGRAMME
S. Schwartz, arr. T. Ricketts
M. Mussorgsky, orch. Ravel
J. Williams, arr. T. Chinn
A. Dvořák
G. Mahler
H. Berlioz
G. Verdi
M. Mussorgsky
I. Stravinsky
S. Schwartz, arr. S. Langenberg
Highlights from Wicked
The Hut on Fowl’s Legs (“Baba Yaga”) from Pictures at an Exhibition
Double Trouble from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Choreography by Charlotte Harris
The Noon Witch (Polednice), op. 108 (Excerpt)
Symphony No. 1 (Excerpt) iii. Wieder etwas bewegter, wie im Anfang (“Frère Jacques”)
Dream of a Witches’ Sabbath (Excerpt) from Symphonie Fantastique
Act 1 Prelude from Macbeth
Night on Bald Mountain
The Rite of Spring (Excerpt)
Defying Gravity from Wicked Kristina Bernardo, soloist
We acknowledge the province of Newfoundland and Labrador as the traditional territory of diverse Indigenous groups, and we acknowledge with respect the diverse histories and cultures of the Beothuk, Mi’kmaq, Innu, and Inuit of this province. We strive for respectful relationships with all the peoples of this province as we search for collective healing and true reconciliation and honour this beautiful land together.
GUEST ARTISTS
Kyle McDavid is a producer, director, writer/composer, educator, and graphic designer. As Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Best Kind Productions, he has produced 40+ events over the past 14 years, wearing many hats both on and off stage in mainstage musicals and plays (Heathers, Be More Chill, Fun Home, Next to Normal, and more), the annual outdoor children’s musical at the Bowring Park Amphitheatre (The Pirates of Penzance, James and the Giant Peach, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and more), cabarets, readings, and workshops. Select acting credits include The Rocky Horror Show (TaDa! Events), All Shook Up (Quidi Vidi/Rennie’s River Development Foundation), Spamalot, Sister Act (Atlantic Light Theatre), Anything Goes, The Addams Family (Peter MacDonald Productions),
The Complete Wrks of Wllm Shkspr Abridged (Shakespeare by the Sea), Chess (Western University). Kyle has also music directed productions in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario and is an alumnus of Up with People (performing in the show Roads with an international cast, touring for a full year in the southwest U.S., Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Austria, British Columbia, and Washington State).
As a musical theatre writer and composer, he has written original musicals including Impresario, based on the life of St. John’s-born Broadway legend, John Murray Anderson, which was produced through the Resource Centre for the Arts in 2017, children’s musicals How Do You Get to Jellybean Row?, Sidewalk Dandelion (commissioned by Shallaway Youth Choir’s neurodiverse ensemble, Lauda), and more. Kyle is a composer/pianist for Ladies Who Lunch Productions’ Three Tales of Terror series, Untellable Movement Theatre (Eli & The Death Curse), has created scripts for the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra’s family pops concerts and 2022 Labrador Tour, as well as The 18: A Come Home Year Concert of Remembrance (The Singing Network). In 2023, Kyle led an ArtsSmarts musical theatre/songwriting project with Beachy Cove Elementary students, and is a multi-time nominee for MusicNL Educator and Graphic Designer awards, as well as ArtsNL’s Educator of the Year award in 2023. Love to Megan, Annika, Lachlan, and Rosalie.
The “Something Wicked” script is a huge thank you to Marc David from Kyle (and all the Best Kind kids, teens, and adults) for being so supportive and excited about these crazy theatrical concerts, jumping on board with whatever wild idea we threw at him (even when HE became an actor in the show!), and doing it all with a smile. Congratulations on your retirement!
We are a theatre company based in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
We produce high quality musicals and plays with an outside-the-box sensibility.
We are an incubator for the development of new Canadian musical theatre, contributing to the artistic landscape of our province.
We are committed to nurturing imagination, commitment, and kindness in our province’s youth, through performance and educational experiences.
We are community builders, bringing great people together to collaborate and dream.
We are Best Kind.
GUEST ARTISTS
Kristina Bernardo is a mezzo-soprano acclaimed for her “poise, grace, and serious power.” She had her debut performance on the Arts and Culture stage at the age of seven, singing and dancing in the chorus of Peter MacDonald Productions’ Scrooge Since then, Kristina has been an enthusiastic participant in the music community of St. John’s, exploring genres such as rock and roll, trad and folk, musical theatre, classical, and jazz. An alumna of the Memorial University of Newfoundland music program, she has participated in the MUN Opera Workshop, toured the island with the Opera Roadshow, and performed with the MUN Jazz Band. More recently, she has sung with the Jazz East Big Band, performed at the album launch for Doctor Androbox and the Pronouns, and remained actively engaged in the community theatre scene. Some of her most cherished roles include Martha Dunnstock in Heathers: The Musical (Best Kind Productions), the Usherette in The Rocky Horror Show (TaDa! Events), Tweedle Dum in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Sister Mary Vitus in Sister Act (Atlantic Light Theatre). Currently, Kristina serves as a private music instructor at the Music Collection and Dance Corner, where she imparts her passion for music through voice and trumpet lessons.
Emma Harrington (Pumpkin) is an 8th grade student who loves to be on stage! She has performed in many musicals such as Best Kind Productions’ Frozen, The SpongeBob Musical, Descendants, and How Do You Get to Jellybean Row?, and takes voice lessons with Kiersten Noel. When not performing, she loves to bake sweet treats for her family and read a good book. Emma is thrilled to be back for her 3rd Spooktacular and hopes everyone enjoys the show!!
Megan Harrington (Vampire) is a 7th grade student who loves to perform. Megan has a passion for musical theatre and dance, performing in shows such as Best Kind Productions’ Descendants, The SpongeBob Musical (as Sandy Cheeks), Frozen, and Peter MacDonald Productions’ Elf (as Michelle). She currently dances competitively at Coastal Dance Company and takes voice lessons with Kiersten Noel. Megan is excited to be back for her second Spooktacular and hopes everyone has a terrifyingly AMAZING time!
Charlotte Harris (Red Riding Hood) is a 14 year old Grade 9 student. She has always loved to perform and does so as often as possible! She holds a special place in her heart for all things musical theatre. Her past credits include Best Kind Productions’ How Do You Get to Jellybean Row (as Molly Fodge), Frozen, Descendants, The SpongeBob Musical, and Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, as well as Peter MacDonald Productions’ Scrooge, Matilda (as Lavender), and more. She is a competitive dancer and a Shallaway chorister! She is thrilled to perform with NSO once again, after appearing in last year’s Heroes & Villains concert and she hopes you enjoy the show! Happy Halloween!
Elliott Lambe (Clown) is a 14 year old student and has been singing, dancing and acting since 2016. His first performance was the Peter MacDonald Production, Oliver! in 2017. With PMP he has also played the roles of Tiny Tim (2018), Youngest Scrooge (2022) in Scrooge and as an elf in Elf: The Musical. Elliott has also been a cast member with Best Kind Productions (BKP) family and performed in How Do You Get To Jellybean Row?, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Descendants, The SpongeBob Musical and as Olaf in Frozen. He is also currently a member of the Ignite Junior Competitive Team. He has performed in several NSO Hallowe’en Spooktaculars throughout the years. Elliott is grateful to BKP and the NSO for the opportunity to be a part of this year’s Spooktacular!
Grace Ryan (Scarecrow) is a Grade 9 student who is immensely grateful for this exciting opportunity to share the stage with the NSO once more in one of her favourite shows of the season! Her previous theatre credits include Bulda in Frozen (Best Kind Productions), Boy Elf in Elf the Musical (Peter MacDonald Productions), Patchy the Pirate in The SpongeBob Musical (BKP), the voice of Faheema in Don’t Give Up On Me, Dad (Andy Jones Productions), Fan in Scrooge (PMP), Mabel in NSO Spring Pops: Heroes and Villains - Mighty Mabel Saves the Symphony (BKP & NSO), and Marigold in Sidewalk Dandelion (BKP & Shallaway Youth Choir). She was also in the musical revue Artsy Girls (Marion Abbott), and part of the ensembles of Descendants (BKP) and How Do You Get to Jellybean Row? (BKP). In addition to her work in the theatre, Grace has appeared on screen as Somnium Viatore/Wet Child in Astrid & Lily Save the World (SYFY), and as Young Jeannie in Dad and the Fridge Box (Torbay Ponies Inc). Grace hopes that you’re ready to sit back for a spell and have the most fa-boo-lous time!
Riley Sesk (Prisoner) is a grade 5 student who loves to sing, act and perform. He has been a student of Courtney Fowler’s Performance Academy since he was 7 years old performing in Songs from Broadway for the past three years. He has been a member of Best Kind Productions since 2023 performing in The SpongeBob Musical last summer and Disney’s Frozen this past summer. He has a very busy year ahead as he will be performing in Peter MacDonald Productions’ Scrooge, TaDa! Events’ Divas Do Christmas, Songs of Broadway 9 and Courtney Fowler’s original play Not Myself Today and Alice by Heart. He is thrilled to be a part of the cast for this year’s Halloween Spooktacular.
Freya Steffen (Cat) is a grade 5 student who loves performing. She has been fortunate to work with Best Kind Productions, Peter MacDonald Productions and is making her debut in Kittiwake Dance Theatre’s The Nutcracker this year. Freya is a passionate dancer, studying at Steffen Dance. This is her first role learning a script and she wants to thank the other actors and Kyle who have been so kind and supportive. Oh, and “Happppyyy Haaaalllooowweeeeen!”
Special thanks to our pre-show Halloween “carolers”: Aoife Strand, Emmajane Donnan, Mila Pike, and Lauren Patten Performing “Down the Witches’ Road” from Agatha All Along written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.
MUSICIANS
VIOLIN 1
Heather Kao
Dominic Greene
Andy Kao
Lauren Smee
Whit Fitzgerald
Natalie Finn
Claire Boudreau
VIOLIN 2
Nancy Case-Oates
Carole Bestvater
Elena Vigna
Jacquelyn Redmond
Cathy Anstey
Stewart Gillies
VIOLA
Kate Read
Ema Shiroma-Chao
Rosaura Aguilar
Mahina Graham-Laidlaw
Emily Pynn
Jonathan Stevenson
CELLO
Nathan Cook
Nulibeth Ortiz
Amy Collyer-Holmes
Sandra Pope
Nancy Bannister
Laura Ivany
Pierre Kusters
BASS
Frank Fusari (and electric bass)
Denise Lear
Nick Howlett
Matthew Hardy
FLUTE
Grace Dunsmore
Sarah Comerford
Donna Spurvey
OBOE/ ENGLISH HORN
Annie Corrigan
Kathy Conway-Ward
CLARINET
Glenn Rice
Brenda Gatherall
Christine Carter (bass clarinet)
BASSOON
Grant Etchegary
Nicole Hand
Chris Williams
HORN
Emily Dunsmore
Doug Vaughan
Michelle Stevenson
David Natsheh
TRUMPET
Katie Sullivan
Jill Dawe
Christian Berglander
TROMBONE
Darren McDonald
Erin Sullivan
BASS TROMBONE
Jo Dashney
TUBA
Catherine Tansley
PERCUSSION
Rob Power
Etienne Gendron (and drum kit)
Jenna Grant
Amy Parsons
Michael Grandy
HARP/HARPSICHORD/ PIANO
Jenny Griffioen
Lynn Ann Pye, Patron Relations Manager
Jennifer Brennan, Education & Outreach Coordinator
Maria Penney, Marketing & Development Manager
Dominic Greene, Personnel Manager
Steve Power, Production Manager/Video Production/Editing
Jenny Griffioen, Librarian
Kyle McDavid, Graphic Designer
N SO Bo ard
T om Hickey (Chair)
Ian Penne y (Vice-Chair)
Paul McDonald (Past Chair)
Douglas Wright (Treasurer)
C onor Stack (Corporate Secretary)
Jessica Chapman
Heather McKinnon
Michelle Davis
Andrea Rose
Alana W alsh-Giov annini
Aimee Letto
Robert Decker
Jennifer Massey
Jing Xia
Karen Bulmer
Amy Collyer-Holmes
Elizabeth Wright
Robert Thompson
P.O. Box 23125 St. John’s, NL A1B 4J9
709-722-4441
nso@nsomusic.ca
Photo: Brad Clarke