Jenny Nelson, Artistic Coordinator & Librarian
“I prefer not to draw attention to myself,” says Jenny Nelson, Artistic Coordinator of the Sooke Philharmonic. But without her, our orchestra would never have got off the ground. She has from the beginning organized every conceivable detail of the hectic journey that led to the flourishing of a unique community orchestra.
Jenny relates that her husband, founding SPO Music Director Norman Nelson, when asked in 1997 what to name the newly formed orchestra, replied immediately, “Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra, of course.” She explains that “philharmonic” means love of music. Thus was born the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra, with Norman on baton and Jenny in the wings supporting him at every turn.
Jenny grew up in southern England. She was blessed with a father who exposed his four children to classical music and made sure they all learned to play an instrument. Jenny chose the cello. Maybe this is what led to her career with the BBC.
Jenny came to us from a rich professional background in organization. Working at the BBC in her early twenties, she requested music as her preferred area and landed a job in the management of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. There our Sooke Phil Artistic Coordinator trained for four years as a member of the team that ran an 89-person orchestra. “At the BBC they paid me to attend concerts, especially the Proms!” enthuses Jenny. There she also met her future husband Norman, who played violin as assistant concertmaster.
A few decades later when the couple “retired" in 1997, the 17-piece SPO began Saturday afternoon rehearsals in the basement of St. Rose of Lima Church in Sooke. The following year the orchestra gave its first concert, and Jenny organized everything from music distribution and publicity to programs and posters. She has continued for 24 years to book venues and soloists for the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, adding the job of librarian, the summer Fling, and the annual weeklong Sooke Chamber Music Workshop in 2002 to her roster of activities.
Nothing happens at the Sooke Philharmonic without its incredibly generous volunteers, including Jenny’s behind-the-scenes efforts. As a retiree she took on what became a full-time job. Without her the Sooke Phil would not have become the high-quality orchestra that we have today, a great achievement for a community orchestra. We thank Jenny and her volunteer entourage as she continues her devoted support following Norman’s retirement in 2018, when he passed the baton to Yariv Aloni, our accomplished Music Director.
Why does Jenny still work so tirelessly for the Sooke Phil? She wants it to continue as a legacy to Norman’s vision, and as an ongoing affirmation of community strength that the Sooke Phil has maintained over two decades in this seaside town of Sooke.