After 6.5 years I’m saying farewell to Vancouver, having moved back to my home town of Kamloops, BC. It’s been 15 years since I left, and I’m excited to be back.
Let’s get one thing clear right away; I am not writing one of those bitter blog posts listing complaints about Vancouver and citing reasons why I was forced to leave the city. This post is a fond farewell to a city I enjoyed living in, and an expression of excitement to be back home in Kamloops.
My time in Vancouver began in the summer of 2010 as I prepared to start my MMus at UBC’s School of Music. Throughout my time in Vancouver, I was repeatedly fortunate to perform and collaborate with some truly remarkable musicians. And as a singer, I have performed several “bucket list” choral works. As a composer, I have had numerous performances with some of the most talented performers I have had the pleasure to meet. I got to be an active member of the new music community sitting on the board of directors of Vancouver Pro Musica and helping out with the Composer Gatherings. In my time in Vancouver I met and worked with a lot of wonderful, creative people, and even managed to go to a few Canucks games*. I will look back on my memories of Vancouver with fondness.
However, all the while that siren song of returning home has been gently present in the background. Both my wife and I were born and raised in Kamloops, and returning at some point has always been talked about. Being closer to family is always nice, especially after several years living in a city with no other family members. And Kamloops has always been a city with great potential.
There are so many talented people here in Kamloops! With numerous thriving music ensembles and great musicians in town, I’m very excited about the different musical shenanigans I can get up as I get re-connected with the local arts community. Every time I have been back in town, I’ve marvelled at how much more there is going on. It seems every time Kamloops started to get somewhat close to realizing its potential, that potential has increased significantly. I’m really looking forward to being a part of the classical/new music scene in Kamloops, and seeing where this new journey takes me.
Farewell Vancouver. You really were a good place to live, and I know I’ll be visiting over the years to come. But I’m back home in Kamloops now, and I’m absolutely thrilled to be here.