FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 20, 2024 –– 

A new class of Fellows has been announced by the Pacific Region International Summer Music Association (PRISMA). Longtime stage manager Peter Deane and departing board chair Mike Robinson were presented the honour for their superb track record of service to the organization. Both were on hand to accept a certificate and commemorative print at PRISMA’s annual general meeting held on February 13 at the Carlson Community Club Loft.

“Peter has been backstage and on stage since the very first concert of PRISMA, day in and day out,” remarked PRISMA artistic director Arthur Arnold. “I am very grateful for what you do for PRISMA. It’s been an incredible donation of your time and energy for all those years and this is our little token of appreciation.”

As the master of all goings-on behind the big red curtain, Deane has consistently been the first to arrive at the Evergreen Theatre on June mornings during the two weeks of PRISMA, ensuring the stage and instruments are in place for orchestra rehearsals, masterclasses and events. On concert days, he is among the last to leave in the late evening. An avid reader and former bookstore owner, it’s typical to find him sitting backstage with a novel during any fleeting moments of downtime.

As Deane unwrapped his commemorative print and held it up for those in attendance to see, Arnold re-approached the mic to announce a plot twist. 

“We have another Fellow and there’s one person in the room who doesn’t know about it, and that’s Mike Robinson,” he said. As it turns out, PRISMA’s board of directors had convened privately to hatch a plan to honour their leader alongside Deane in this year’s class. Robinson departed the board in February after eight years of service, the last five in the chair role.

“Mike brought a wealth of knowledge of how to run an arts organization successfully,” said Arnold. “Mike has opened up his contacts in Vancouver for us, he has introduced us to many people who became donors, sponsors, contributors to the Endowment Fund. I don’t think we would be here today without Mike Robinson. So Mike, for you there is a fellowship as well.”

Robinson and Deane join a commemorative hall of distinction founded in 2019 that includes Paul Schachter, Sharon Thomas and Brian Balfe (2019); John Silver (2020); Brendan and Heather Allen (2021); Michael and Liz Matthews and Lee Coulter (2022) and Jeanette Scott (2023).