The Canadian Opera Company Orchestra is a prestigious gig for any classical musician. Being named principal of a section is an honour.
Keith Hamm, only 22 years of age, auditioned for, and became one of the youngest people to have been named principal of a section, namely of the violas.
The Canadian Opera Company Orchestra was created in 1977 and is the oldest opera orchestra in Canada. The orchestra has a permanent membership of 50 instrumentalists.
Keith grew up in Rosebud and is the son of Rosebud Theatre’s musical director Bill Hamm. While most young boys dream of playing guitar or drums, Keith gravitated to the classics and the violin at the age of five.
“He heard a student, April Bellamy who also lives in Rosebud, play in church and wanted to play,” explained Bill. “He was five years old and we got him started. He kept going steady, practiced some, and performed a lot with the Rosebud Theatre and dinner theatre.”
At the age of 15, after playing violin for ten years, Keith decided to in go a new direction. Keith left behind the violin and made the switch to the viola.
From there, Keith spent two years at Mount Royal College and three at the Glenn Gould School of Music in Ontario. Keith also spent summers in England, Florida, Quebec and at the National Arts Centre honing his skills.
But, all that changed when he saw an opening for a violist in the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra.
“A position opened, and he auditioned thinking that you need experience auditioning to get anywhere. He got it,” said Bill. “He was as shocked as anybody.”
This week, Keith’s family will be heading out to see their son in his new position for the first time.
Keith will be performing in two operas; Tosca and Love From Afar.
“We didn’t know how far he was going to go or how it was going to happen but that’s the way it worked out,” said Hamm.
