The Larry Jensen and the Orchestra concert this weekend at Harmony Centre began in 2005 with a broken violin sting. Newly arrived resident Richard Mascall needed a new violin string so he could begin to practise and join the Georgian Bay Symphony (GBS), an organization he learned about after moving to Leith. He headed off to Jensen Music in downtown Owen Sound for his violin string and before he left that day he had a job teaching violin and guitar on Saturday mornings.

Over the next couple of years, Richard was treated to Larry strumming his guitar and singing his own songs at the store. At about the same time that Richard was hired as the Composer-in-Residence at the GBS, Larry expressed that ‘my greatest dream is to perform my music with an orchestra”. “I was quick to make Larry’s dream come true and worked with him for six months, learning many of his songs, eventually creating an entire programme’s worth of his material to present at a special live concert” says Mascall.

In June 2008, the first “Larry Jensen and the Orchestra’ took place at the Roxy. This concert featured Larry, the string sections of the orchestra, and pianist Rob McLean.

Richard states that “my good friend from Toronto, jazz musician, Daniel Salvendy has stepped up to work with Larry, learning all his material and becoming a driving force behind the revival of this project”. Richard has taken the string scores and has added other instruments to make it a full orchestra. Saturday’s concert will also include special guests: vocalist Tara MacKenzie and bassist Tyler Wagler.

Tickets can be purchased for this unique concert event online through the Symphony’s website or at the door. Doors open at 6, concert at 7pm Saturday June 3 at the Harmony Centre. This is a licensed event and there will be a silent auction.

source: GB Symphony