There's a reason it's been one of the most popular concerts anywhere for the past 25 years.
After all, it doesn't get much better than a summer evening spent listening to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in a beautiful setting.
The VSO is returning to Deer Lake for the 26th year to offer up its free Symphony in the Park concert on Sunday, July 13.
The orchestra, under conductor Gordon Gerrard, will perform popular classics including the overture from Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus, John Williams' Raiders of the Lost Ark: March, Richard Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, Antonin Dvorak's Slavonic Dances and, of course, Peter Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.
"I'm thrilled to be leading the VSO in another great concert at Deer Lake Park this summer," said Gerrard, the orchestra's assistant conductor, in a press release. "For concertgoers and musicians alike, there's definitely something magical about an outdoor concert, and our longstanding partnership with the City of Burnaby has made this popular event at Deer Lake into a cherished tradition."
Each year, the Symphony in the Park concert features an up-and-coming musician.
This year, 17-year-old violinist Lucy Wang will be featured in Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major.
Lucy began her violin studies at the age of three and made her solo debut with the VSO in February this year. In May of this year, Lucy was the grand prize winner of the VSO School Concerto Competition - which earned her the chance to play at the Deer Lake Park concert and with the VSO at the Orpheum in June 2015.
She currently serves as concertmaster of the Semiahmoo Strings Youth Orchestra, an elite group of advanced string players.
The Symphony in the Park concert is set for 7:30 p.m. Families are invited to bring blankets, arrive early - with picnics, if so deserved - and settle in for a summer's evening.
Parking is limited, so it's recommended that people use alternate transportation if possible.
For more, check out www.vancouversymphony.ca and find the summer concerts information under Concerts and Tickets.
You can also find more at www.shadboltcentre.com or call the Shadbolt Centre box office at 604-205-3000.
