Yellowknife (Jan 14/05) - Look out, punk. Classical music appears to be the hottest ticket in town.

Pianist Amy Hendricks said the sold-out CBC Radio Orchestra concert last month is proof that there's a huge interest in the classics right now.

Not only did the tickets sell out weeks before the concert, but the buzz at NACC that night was something akin to Beatlemania.

"Mario Bernardi (the conductor) was treated like a rock star," said Hendricks.

It's not like oboe players were being carried aloft in a mosh pit or anything, but Yellowknife music fans went wild, classical music-style.

"Everyone at NACC was stamping their feet for more," said Hendricks. "(Bernardi) had never done an encore in his life."

Hendricks and nine other musicians, including singers Margo Nightingale, Shelley Gislason, Shad Turner and Shawn Mattas, along with flautist Maureen Crotty, have formed Classics On Stage Yellowknife (COSY) to feed Yellowknife's hunger for classical music.

In the short term, COSY has plans to perform three fundraising recitals this year, the first being next Friday and Saturday at Calvary Community Church. Proceeds from the recitals will go towards the group's first fundraising aim: the purchase of a grand piano for community use.

The program will include a Bach sonata for flute and piano, some baroque recorder music, some sacred music in German and French, as well as a few operatic arias in Italian and French, including Delibes' flower duet from Lakme.

And just for fun, soloist Shad Turner will sing a Mozart horn concerto.

In the long term, COSY hopes to bring up performers, instructors, and hold youth music competitions.

You can find a COSY rehearsal easily by following the sound of soprano coloratura laughter. It's also one of the group's bylaws that suitable refreshments be served at each meeting, prepared by the groups' designated chef.

"Music and friendship go hand in hand," said Hendricks. "Yellowknife is just big enough to have the people to do stuff like this, but just small enough not to crowd anyone out."

The cost of a good, medium-used concert piano, including shipping, would be around $30,000, Hendricks estimated.

Their biggest concern is finding a suitable performance space to put the piano, should they raise enough money to buy one.

The Northern Arts and Cultural Centre hasn't got the right acoustics.

Calvary Community Church has good acoustics but limited seating.

"The legislative assembly is the best in terms of size and acoustics," she said.

But seeking permission to house the instrument at the seat of the NWT government could generate a morass of red tape.

Ultimately, the group aims to promote the practise of classical music.

"I find Yellowknife is very sports-focused," said Hendricks.

"But what if you're 12 years old and you don't want to play soccer?

"What if you want to play the violin? Active living is important, but music you can do until you're 80."