Orchestras feel the ensemble South Vancouver orchestras forging community, creating music together ~ Musicians rehearsing for the Vancouver Pops Orchestra on Oct. 23, 2019. Music director Tom Kuo believes that it is important for the orchestra to stay affordable for many people. ray cHopPinG PHOTO By RAY CHOPPING any people take the time to learn to play a musical instru- ment growing up and during their schooling — but where does a classically trained musician go in South Vancouver to continue practising their art? Vancouver’s community orches- tras provide non-professional musi- cians a place to practise and perform their art in large ensembles. Vancouver Pops Orchestra, located on 8881 Selkirk St., was founded by Tom Kuo in 2008. The orchestra’s mission is to provide a fun, progressive and chal- lenging environment for musicians to thrive. Operating as a charity, Kuo feels it is important that Vancouver Pops is affordable and open to as many people as possible. “We really want to be here for the community,” Kuo said. For many musicians, whose music is not the primary source of their income, the community orchestra is the only available option they have to play. “The orchestra really helped me to feel part of the community,” said Kimira Reddy, a violin player who RAY CHOPPING PHOTO moved to Vancouver from South Africa three years ago. Wendy Koh, another violin- ist, said to her the comradery was a very important part of being in the orchestra. VANCOUVER POPS ORCHESTRA FOUNDER “Arts are crucial to our development as individu- als,” Koh said. “We really want She also believes that the live performances might to be here for the inspire other residents that . ” they are welcome to join in. community. SFU professor of music, -TOM KUO David MacIntyre, believes the role community orchestras play in Vancou- ver is essential to keeping big ensemble music alive. Many of the musicians who play in these community orchestras bring an enormous amount of expe- rience with them. They allow play- ers to “continue making music while making a living doing something else,” MacIntyre said. A Little Night Music Orchestra’s conductor and music director, Alana Chan, believes that while it’s fair to say a community orchestra is not professional, it would also be unfair to call them amateur too. “They fall somewhere in between,’ Chan said. Both orchestras regularly put on Christmas and Spring shows each year throughout the city. Violinist Matthew Low feels that our city can always use more art. “Not everyone can afford to watch the Vancouver Symphony Orches- tra,” Low said. 7 Night jogs can bring people to- gether Beginners join late- night five kilometres sessions due to full workday schedules By STEVEN CHANG eth Ringdahl was a long-time B office worker. That eventually led to symptoms of sciatica. She understood all too well the importance of staying in shape for the longevity heading towards the next decade. So she joined Eastside Fitness, which has a night jogging program that offers a free, weekly event in the South Vancouver neighbourhood as an alternative fitness option corre- sponding to people’s busy schedule. “I find it important to keep the working perspective. If it means Joggers preparing themselves before a night session near Eastside Fitness on Oct. 24, 2019. STEVEN CHANG PHOTO leaving a little early to fit in a class. Just knowing that fitness is as impor- tant as your work and knowing that there’s friends when you get to East- side Fitness,” Ringdahl said. Located on 5788 Fraser St., East- side Fitness was established by co-founders Wendy Sinclair and Darnelle Moore. Their goal is to create a friendly fitness community. As a former police officer, Sinclair acknowledges the challenges women encounter towards exercising, which includes working full-time, raising children and safety at night. “Women put themselves third or fourth on the list. Gradually, their health declines in terms of mobility and weight gain. In the long run, it “Fitness is as important as your work.” —BETH RINGDAHL, EASTSIDE FITNESS NIGHT JOGGER can cause other problems,” Sinclair said. Lara Penno, manager of runner services at the non-profit organiza- tion RUNVAN, says that there are a few reasons why people decide to night jog across Vancouver. “I often run first thing in the morning, before work, before my kids are awake. Running in the dark in the morning is the only time of the day I can get out to run,” Penno said. She says that from a women’s perspective, there is always that fear factor when you jog in the dark. “You're a little bit unsure if some- one could be waiting around the corner, someone could be jumping out at you,” Penno said. Moore says the night jogging program is a great way to get together as a group, especially for women or people unfamiliar with the neighbourhood. “It’s definitely about creating the community. I love when a whole bunch of people are consistently meeting up and getting to know each other,” Moore said.