The 35-year-old, highly successful Hornby Festival is launching an innovative school for B.C.’s best emerging and newly touring musicians.
Running from Aug. 4 – 7, the school is seeking out B.C.’s top emerging musicians to come for an intensive practicum imbedded in the festival itself.
Behind the scenes this year, we are up to something big. We have started a residency program/school for emerging and aspiring musicians on breath-taking Hornby Island.
There is so much musical ability and industry knowledge on the island during the Hornby Festival, why not pass it on to the next generation?
Faculty will be coaching eight to 20 of the province’s top up-and-coming musicians with their best musical, performance, and equally important, logistic and business advice.
During the festival, emerging musicians will be in an intensive four-day practicum.
Their lead mentor is musician-extraordinaire and educator, Daniel Lapp.
Other faculty includes reggae legend, Clinton Fearon, Canadian touring warrior, Tom Landa (of the Paperboys, Locarno and the BC World Music Collective), Toronto-based folk trio (and perhaps the easiest group we have every worked with), The O’Pears.
Our business faculty includes, technical guru, Adrian Dolan, PR guru, John McLachlan and our artistic director, Dierdre Atkinson.
All this business guidance along with performance and musical advice will be given by a faculty who are living a successful career in music.
The students will stay together at the charming Hornby Island Dive School where they will focus all day on bridging the gap to becoming a successful touring musician, networking and taking in the music festival by night.
The four days will culminate with a performance opportunity on our festival stage on the last night.
It is our goal over the years to expand the school out to the Hornby Island shoulder season – making Hornby Island known as an arts education destination for emerging/aspiring musicians.