Monday, January 21, 2002

Illness claims PGSO conductor

Bernice Trick

by BERNICE TRICK Citizen staff

The arts community in Prince George is saddened by the death of Wallace Leung, music conductor for Prince George Symphony Orchestra. The 33-year-old lost his battle with viral encephalitis Friday at Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, where he had been ill since Dec. 21.

Jo-Anne Merkel, PGSO manager, who received the word Saturday said orchestra members and patrons are dismayed by the news. ``We are saddened that this young man with so much positive energy and vision is gone,'' said Merkel. ``He was a keen player who truly liked people.'' The PGSO society board of directors will be meeting to arrange for a local memorial service shortly, and further details will be made public as they are known, Merkel said. Bob Brooks, PGSO community violinist, said Leung's death is a ``tremendous tragedy.'' ``I think he was the key music director to turn this orchestra around. He had all the attributes a real music director needs to have. He could relate to everyone and he was not afraid to go out and knock on doors to do what he had to do.''

Metin Toyata, PGSO community French horn player, said ``It's hard to believe this tragedy has happened to us. I'm still stunned by the news.''

Toyata described Leung as ``the best director we've had when it came to relating to the public.'' ``He had a lot of charisma and a keen sense of what would work musically. He chose works that were appealing to people, including children, whom were drawn to him.''

Mr. Leung became ill on the day he arrived in New York where he had gone to spend Christmas with his fiancee and her family. Doctors induced a coma to relieve severe seizures and planned to slowly bring him out of the coma by reducing medication.

That plan was under way, but when doctors further reduced his medication on Jan. 16, he suffered more seizures, so medication was re-administered. He died Friday about 2:30 p.m. Prince George time.  Leung, a native of Vancouver, had been with the PGSO since last March.   His hopes and vision was to reach out to the northern half of the province with concerts and family events.

Bradley Thachuk, a long time friend of Leung, is here as the PGSO's interim music director. Thachuk is a Torontonian who now lives in Cincinnati.