To celebrate 20 years, the festival is inviting four well-known music educators, some of whom travel the globe sharing their insight, musical knowledge and passion for music making, to work with this year’s students.
As part of their festival experience, students will be treated to an evening concert featuring the University of Victoria Wind Symphony under the direction of Dr. Gerry King, one of our festival adjudicators.
Members of the community to come out and enjoy some of the fine musicianship that is blooming under the direction of local band and choir teachers in the Comox Valley and all over Vancouver Island. This year, the festival welcomes groups from Victoria to Campbell River. A detailed schedule of performances is available on the School District 71 website under Programs, Fine Arts.
Nov. 21 will feature the choral portion of the festival at Northgate Foursquare Church from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A number of local schools — Courtenay Elementary, École Puntledge, Vanier, Highland and Mark Isfeld — will feature groups throughout the day.
Tuesday and Wednesday will feature the concert band portion of the festival at the Sid Williams Theatre. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., and people are welcome to come and go throughout the day.
UVic’s Wind Symphony is recognized as one of the premiere performing wind ensembles in the Pacific Northwest.
The evening Wind Symphony performance on Nov. 22 starting at 7 p.m. will be open to the public, but seating will be limited. Admission is by donation.
— Comox Valley Band and Choir Festival