Alex Hollmann was busy backstage at the Grand Concert for Powell River Festival of Performing Arts when he heard his name called. He wasn’t sure what was happening when he was told to go on stage.
Hollmann was named recipient of the 2012 David Pike Memorial Award. Pike was a lover of the performing arts and the award is given out in his memory to recognize “outstanding contribution to the development and continuing support of the arts in Powell River.”
During an interview the next day, Hollmann said he was “totally flabbergasted” after the announcement and could not say anything. “I would have broken down in tears. I never expected it.”
Hollmann has lived in Powell River since 1969, two years after emigrating from Germany with his wife Renete and two children.
His sister lived here so the decision was made to move from the Lower Mainland because of “the scenery,” and the opportunity to work and buy a house.
A painter by trade, Hollmann looked for work but he only spoke German. “All I could say was ‘I don’t speak English.’ It was hard.”
There was a strike at the paper mill and Hollmann was unsuccessful in obtaining a job at first. A third child was born after arriving so it was important to find work to feed and house the family.
A Salvation Army captain “pulled some strings” and Hollmann eventually was hired at the mill where he worked for 20 years.
In 1972, Dieter and Elisabeth von Holst encouraged him to join Powell River Chorus. Before he knew it, he was president of the group.
Hollmann has always loved to sing. As a youngster in Germany, his family had a piano and his sister took lessons. Hollmann sat beside her, watching her play, and soon started to play himself. “I played for hours for my own entertainment,” he explained. “It was war time and there was no money for anything else.”
Hollmann’s mother let him join “an old men’s group” when he was just 16 years old. He and another young man spent time singing with them in the back of a beer hall. “The two of us were drunk every Monday because we sang and drank beer,” he said laughing at the memory. “My mother took me out of the group because of the drinking, not the singing.”
Hollmann’s wife also sang and played the guitar. All four of their children were in school choirs and took piano lessons.
The family attended concerts, all the “kids in tow.” They would present flowers to the conductors because that’s what was done in Germany.
His involvement with Powell River Chorus allowed Hollmann the opportunity to meet more people and his English improved.
Helping the chorus as an organizer and not just a singer is reflective of Hollmann’s nature. “When I join something, I join it not just half way. I do what is required and more.”
He is a lifetime member of the chorus and, after an absence, is now back singing. He was also part of Chor Musica men’s choir and recently returned to that fold as well.
When Hollmann originally joined Powell River Chorus, Charles Stowell was the conductor and his wife Nancy was the accompanist. He also knew the couple because of his children’s participation in school choirs. He was a parent volunteer, chaperoning on trips and helping backstage for productions such as Kiss Me Kate and Once Upon a Mattress, which Nancy directed.
After his wife died, he and Nancy, who was then on her own, married and continue lives that are filled with music.
When there was an audition call for The Sound of Music several years ago, Hollmann put on his Bavarian outfit and showed up, saying “Captain von Trapp reporting.” He had the part immediately.
Hollmann has been a participant in the festival as a soloist, part of a duet with Nancy who is a piano and voice teacher and as a member of a barbershop quartet.
For many years, he has been stage manager for the festival’s Grand Concert and more recently for Broadway Show Tunes night. He started out working with former Powell River teacher Travis McDonough before McDonough left the community. Now Hollmann and his cohorts Ray Osmond and Bill Fleming manage props, music stands and chairs as well as move a grand piano for the multitude of acts.
Hollmann loves working with the festival but is thinking it’s time to start training a replacement, just like he was trained. “We’ll see how that goes.”
