Yariv Aloni, SPO Music Director & Pamela Highbaugh Aloni, Cellist and Coach

SPO Music Director Yariv Aloni and cellist Pamela Highbaugh Aloni concur that it was impossible to say no to Norman Nelson. This musical couple sustain Norman’s legacy with love and respect. They exude warmth and enthusiasm for their alliance with the orchestra, which happened following a series of serendipitous events.

In 1991 the Lafayette String Quartet (with Pam as cellist) landed a position as Artists-in-Residence at UVic, the same year that the Penderecki String Quartet (with Yariv as violist) became Quartet-in-Residence at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo. The Lafayette Quartet was invited to perform there and Pam recalls meeting the Penderecki quartet who all had exotic-sounding names. Pam and Yariv clearly made a lasting impression upon one another, because they married 3 years later and decided that Yariv would relocate to Victoria. 

Shortly after his arrival in 1994, Yariv was asked to lead the newly-formed Victoria Chamber Orchestra and a few years later to work with the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra. Along with his position with the Sooke Philharmonic, Yariv continues his long association with both organizations as Musical Director. He confesses that in his beginning years as a conductor he relied on his musical instincts and experience as a violist, but soon realized that he needed instruction. 

Enter János Sándor, appointed conductor of the UVic Orchestra and the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra in 1995. For more than a decade he became Yariv’s teacher and mentor, and a cherished father figure. Yariv was given expert guidance, then applied it in practice with the VCO and GVYO. As Pam put it, “no doctoral program could have provided Yariv with the thorough and personalized education he received from János Sándor.” One of Yariv’s favorite quotes from János is  that “everything you do on the podium has meaning.” 

When asked about the Lafayette’s String Quartet’s remarkable 35 years together with the same personnel, Pam explains that “in each phase of our years together, the challenge to allow for the growth of the quartet while still keeping space and room for each of us individually has been a real focus for us, both in our career and in our music making.”

The quartet often gives concerts at the annual SPO Chamber Music Workshop. Pam and her quartet love to perform for such a discerning and appreciative audience. Of course both Yariv in 2012 and Pam in 2016 said yes when asked to become regular workshop coaches. They offer grateful participants their infectious love of music and finely-honed collaborative expertise.

In 2016, with just one day’s preparation, Yariv substituted for Norman, conducting the SPO in a program that included a piece that he had never conducted before. He led an orchestra that was well-prepared and able to follow, and the SPO encountered a seasoned, highly skilled conductor. 

Yariv accepted Norman’s subsequent offer to become Music Director, agreeing to take the position only when the Maestro was ready to step down. After 20 years of distinguished and devoted leadership, our beloved Norman passed the baton to Yariv following the October concert of 2017.

Through every gesture and movement Yariv’s sensitive musicianship is evident. He advocates the advice from Dr. Henry to be calm and kind, and to “know your score, listen to what the orchestra is doing, let them play and ‘conduct’ only when you are needed.” 

Yariv expresses his deep appreciation for the SPO: “I love the enthusiasm of all the players making a huge effort to learn and perform great music. I love the transformation from the first rehearsal to the concert, and I am always incredibly moved by how much the audience and the whole Sooke community support, hold, and love hearing their SPO.” 

We are fortunate indeed in our Sooke community to benefit from the generosity and abundant musical gifts offered by this talented couple.