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Music director Kirk Wilkie conducts during a rehearsal |
BY JONAS BEALS
The way the Rappahannock Pops Orchestra's 2008-09 season is shaping up, it just might have to shut down.
About three weeks ago, orchestra conductor Kirk Wilkie learned that his requests to use James Monroe High School for practices and performances had been denied. The news came as a surprise to Wilkie, who is now scrambling to find a new practice venue.
"This is a unique and unfortunate situation," Wil-kie said. "It seems like they don't want us to perform at the school."
For eight years, JM has been the unofficial home of the orchestra. Not only does the large band require a significant amount of space, it also needs equipment, such as timpani, that musicians are unlikely to own or transport to practices.
Without access to those resources, Wilkie might be forced to consider an unfortunate option.
"The community might not have the Rappahannock Pops Orchestra this year," he said.
JM Principal Daryl Chesley sees the issue as a simple scheduling problem. Now that the school has large, state-of-the-art performance and practice spaces, there is huge demand from organizations inside and outside of the school.
"We review applications every Wednesday, and we try to accommodate as many as we can," he said. "I've had to say no to a lot of people. There are a lot of ballet companies disappointed in me right now."
Chesley acknowledged, however, that the orchestra's use of the school's percussion equipment was a sticking point. He said it was used without permission in the past, and he suggested that Wilkie failed to follow procedure when it came to reserving and using the school's facilities.
Wilkie denied those allegations, adding that orchestra members always treated the JM equipment in a respectful and professional manner.
Wilkie has given up on JM for this season, and now he has his sights set on Chancellor High School in Spotsylvania County.
Chancellor activities director Ben Herndon told The Free Lance--Star that the school's facilities will not be available to the orchestra. He said that his students come first, and most of the dates Wilkie wanted were not open.
"He requested 21 or 22 dates," Herndon said of Wilkie, "and at least 15 of them weren't available."
To reach Jonas Beals: 540/368-5036
Email: jbeals@freelancestar.com
