End of an era for Regina Symphony Orchestra's Victor Sawa

It will be the end of an era for the Regina Symphony Orchestra on Saturday night.

After 20 years as conductor of the RSO, Victor Sawa will take his final bow at hisfarewell concert Saturday evening.

From outdoor concerts to movie scores, Sawa has worked to make the symphony accessible to the average person.Some would say he made the symphony a hip event to attendin Regina.

"We noticed that over the years the audiences became younger, louder and morethe numbers increased,"saidSawa,who now and then would wear a Riders' jerseywhile conducting music composed by Beethoven.

Maestro Sawa's final performance with the RSO will conclude with Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. Ironically, on the same day in 1824, Beethoven conducted the premiere of the composition.

While not ruling out conducting another orchestra somewhere in the world, Sawa says Regina will remain his home.

As for his last concert with the RSO, Sawa is not spending too much time thinking about it.

"A show is a show." he says. "I will think about it afterwards."