Gold Winner Ria Mae with Symphony NS
Silver Winner The Mellotones 20th Anniversary at The Marquee
Bronze Winner Feist at the Cohen
For all of the awe and wonder hearing pop songs interpreted by an orchestra can serve up—and Symphony Nova Scotia has been offering those experiences for years—there was something particularly spectacular about concertmaster Renaud Lapierre ripping a violin solo in Ria Mae’s massive but saucy hit “Clothes Off” (he got more applause than Classified). Not only was a hometown hero returning from a world tour to one of the most storied experiences a local musician can have, but the Symphony was clearly loving it. A rare and terrific combination of styles.