This is the last week to buy tickets for the Voices Three concert at the Sid Williams Theatre on Saturday.
The fun-filled evening raises funds for the Comox Valley Hospice Society and features the songwriting talents of local performers Helen Austin, Sue Pyper and Judy Wing.
Accompanying them will be Jim Stepan on percussion, Bruce Wing on bass and guitar, and Trent Freeman on violin and mandolin.
“We’re very happy with how the show has come together, and to have Trent able to join us again for this year’s concert,” says performer Sue Pyper.
“His accompaniment definitely adds an energetic edge to the performance that really helps to support everything else that happens onstage.”
Originally from the Comox Valley, Freeman recently graduated from Boston’s Berklee College of Music, receiving the 2010 String Department’s award for Outstanding Musical Achievement.
“Trent is considered a musical treasure on both the West and East Coasts,” says performer Helen Austin, who originally met him at the local fiddle jam. “He has such a natural talent and supportive personality; it will be exciting to watch where his musical career takes him.”
So far, Freeman has toured with several college groups including the Berklee World Strings, the Berklee Bluegrass All-stars, Berklee Funk & Soul, and the Berklee Gospel Ensemble. He has also worked with jazz, bluegrass, country, hip hop, funk, R&B, gospel and folk bands, including Jessie Farrell, the Clumsy Lovers, Wyclef Jean and others.
Now based in Vancouver, Freeman’s accomplishments, versatility and creativity make him a highly sought-after back-up musician, recording artist, composer, and bandleader. His upcoming projects include representing Berklee at Scotland’s Celtic Connections with the Trans-Atlantic Seaway Collaboration, and touring with NASCAR to play for a production that documents NASCAR’s history.
Fans of Voices Three have described the shows as more than a concert, calling them a musical experience. The diversity of musical genres, personal experiences, perspectives, songwriting styles, personalities and unscripted spontaneity offer something for everyone.
“The shows really are an expression of our shared humanity and the music is a way of sharing the commonality of our experiences within our culture, our families, and our social circles,” says Judy Wing.
“That’s why we all felt that the Comox Valley Hospice Society would be such a great fit as the beneficiary of the proceeds. At some point in time, we will all experience the grief of losing a loved one, and will come to know the importance of these resources firsthand.”
Tickets for the Jan. 15 concert are $25 each and available at the Sid Williams box office or online at www.sidwilliamstheatre.com.
For more information, visit www.voicesthree.com.
— Voices Three