Renowned classical musician to play in Abbotsford

  • 2024-03-01
Accomplished clarinetist Gene Ramsbottom will be performing alongside the Fraser Valley Symphony in Abbotsford this April as part of their season.

The concert will be titled “Rhapsodic Runs” for its notable extended solos and individual performances. Works performed will include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4, Boieldieu’s La Dame Blanche Overture, and Weber’s Concertino. Ramsbottom has been a fixture in Canadian classical music for a half-century, having made his debut for the CBC Radio Orchestra in 1974 and played with them until their dissolution in 2008. He has also played around the world and spearheaded the Vancouver Art Gallery’s weekly Out For Lunch concert series.

The show is one of four in the Fraser Valley Symphony’s 2023-24 season, which has also seen the group celebrating their 40th anniversary with a performance of popular movie scores. Each show features an acclaimed guest such as Ramsbottom and local musical talent from Abbotsford and the broader Fraser Valley region, all led by conductor Lindsay Mellor. Classical groups such as this typically use poster printing, local radio promotion and other marketing tools to attract local music connoisseurs, as well as participants in auditions and contests.

“Rhapsodic Runs” will take place at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium in Abbotsford on the afternoon of April 7. Seating is done festival-style, and the concert hall is a scent-free environment.