Victoria Conservatory of Music

Winds & Brass Summer Intensive Program – Final Celebration Concert
2024-08-23 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Vancouver) | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Admission by donation. Entry for this concert will be at the Victoria Conservatory of Music – 900 Johnson Street.

After a fun-filled week of music education and enrichment in the Summer Winds & Brass Intensive, come hear what our students have been working on as they perform chamber and small ensemble music for friends and family.

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.

Winds & Brass Summer Intensive Program Faculty Concert
2024-08-19 12:45 - 13:45 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Admission by donation. Entry for this concert will be at the Victoria Conservatory of Music – 900 Johnson Street.

Join us for a fun chamber music concert featuring faculty from the Winds & Brass Summer Intensive Program. This casual concert is perfect for the whole family and a great opportunity to hear a wide variety of music performed on woodwind & brass instruments.

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.

Choral Summer Intensive Program Final Concert Featuring the Emily Carr String Quartet
2024-08-17 19:00 - 20:00 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Entry for this concert is at the Victoria Conservatory of Music – 900 Johnson Street.

About this event

Experience music performed by singers of the Victoria Conservatory Choral Summer Intensive Program and Emily Carr String Quartet. This hour-long concert will feature a wide variety of repertoire for choir and strings by composers J.S. Bach, Gabriel Fauré, Ola Gjeilo, James Mulholland, and Katerina Gimon.

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.

Cabaret Summer Intensive Program – Final Concert
2024-07-27 19:00 - 20:00 | Robin & Winifred Wood Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4, Canada
Admission by donation. Entry for this concert will be at the Victoria Conservatory of Music – 900 Johnson Street.

Join the Cabaret class for an evening of entertainment from the early days of the 20th century! With songs from the bars of Paris, the underground clubs of Berlin, and the music halls of London, the show gives a glimpse into a bygone era when social satire was wrapped in elegant melodies!

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.

Large Ensemble Final Concert, Baroque Summer Intensive Program
2024-07-20 14:30 - 15:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Entry for this concert is at the Victoria Conservatory of Music – 900 Johnson Street. Admission by donation.

The Baroque Summer Intensive Program concludes with a festival of three concerts of chamber music, arias, opera scenes, orchestral, and choral music. These final concerts spotlight the students and give them a chance to play side-by-side with faculty mentors.

Friday, July 19 at 5:00pm: Small Ensemble Final Concert; Chamber Ensembles

Friday, July 19 at 7:30pm: Small Ensemble Final Concert; Arias and Opera Scenes

Saturday, July 20 at 2:30pm: Large Ensemble Final Concert

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.

Small Ensemble Final Concert; Arias and Opera Scenes, Baroque Summer Intensive Program
2024-07-19 19:30 - 20:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4

Small Ensemble Final Concert; Chamber Ensembles, Baroque Summer Intensive Program
2024-07-19 17:00 - 18:00 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4

A Musical Bouquet, Baroque Summer Intensive Program Faculty Concert
2024-07-16 19:30 - 21:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Entry for this concert is at the Victoria Conservatory of Music – 900 Johnson Street.

About this event

Faculty members of the Baroque Summer Intensive Program bring you a gathering of vivid and enchanting musical flowers, from perennial favourites by Bach and Vivaldi to lesser-known treasures by Barbara Strozzi and others. Join members of Victoria Baroque, Pacific Baroque Orchestra, and early music specialists from across North America for this uplifting summertime concert.

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.

Strings Summer Intensive Program – Final Concert, Week 2
2024-07-12 14:30 - 15:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Admission by donation. Entry for this concert will be at the Victoria Conservatory of Music – 900 Johnson Street.

Come and hear String students celebrate the end of the week with a performance!

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.

Strings Summer Intensive Program – Week 2 - Chamber Groups + Cello Ensemble
2024-07-11 17:00 - 18:00 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Admission by donation. Entry for this concert will be at the Victoria Conservatory of Music – 900 Johnson Street.

Come and hear chamber works that the students of the Strings Summer Intensive Program have prepared over the course of the week, and stay for some guest appearances by our stellar faculty. This is the first of two concerts presented by the students in the strings Summer Intensive Program.

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.

Strings Summer Intensive Program – Final Concert, Week 1
2024-07-06 14:30 - 15:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4

Strings Summer Intensive Program – Week 1 - Chamber Groups + Cello Ensemble
2024-07-05 17:00 - 18:00 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4

Opera Quest 2024 Presents: The Soldier and the Sea
2024-06-28 19:30 - 20:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Entry for this concert is at the Victoria Conservatory of Music – 900 Johnson Street.

About the event
An operatic exploration composed by Colin Doroschuk, and developed for the stage in creative collaboration with a cast of emerging Singers, Greek Chorus, Dancers, & Production Team. Learn more Opera Quest here.

Mythological Scenes from a Soldier’s Odyssey across the Sea
An Unknown Soldier, Ulysses, lying wounded on a foreign battlefield, enters a mythological No Man’s Land at the threshold between past and present; memory, dream and reality…The Soldier & The Sea presents several stages of his Odyssey as he searches to find his way back to his homeland…

Performed by:

Victoria Lachowska ……………Circe-Penelope

Daniela Agostino ……………….Calypso-Penelope

Julia Sloan ………………………..Athena-Penelope

Omar Iglesias …………………….Ulysses

Shelley Forrester ………………..The Oracle

Audrey Hamilton ………………. Fate 1, Syren

Amelia Croft ………………………Fate 2, Syren

Grace Lachlan ……………………Fate 3, Syren

Jill Forrester ………………………Choral Euriclea

Steve Barker ………………………Choral Cyclops

Christian Sauvageau ………….Choral Ulysses

Brooke Gallupe ………………….Bass

Luke Kozlowski ………………….Drums, Percussion

Robert Holliston ………………..Piano, Synthesizer

Colin Doroschuk: ………………Synths, Piano, Guitars

Compositional Director: Colin Doroschuk

Choreographic Director: Julia Sloan

Technical Visual Coordinator: Kyron Basu

The Victoria Conservatory of Music’s OperaQuest program is generously supported by RBC Foundation.

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.

The Big IDEA: Sharing our music and telling our stories - Celebrate Pride!
2024-06-23 14:30 - 16:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Obtain your tickets for The Big IDEA: Celebrate Pride! event. Tickets are offered for free or pay what you can. Entry for this concert will be at the Victoria Conservatory of Music – 900 Johnson Street.

Sunday, June 23 – Celebrate Pride!
Conservatory faculty who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ community members or allies present an afternoon of music to celebrate the contributions of 2SLGBTQIA+ composers, arrangers, or performers. Celebrate Pride! is the culmination of our initiative, The Big IDEA: Sharing our music and telling our stories. A panel of guests will participate in a discussion about the importance of having pride in the significant contributions 2SLGBTQIA+ artists have made to our community and beyond!

Faculty and Special Guest Musical Performers

Camilo Aybar, Dr. Jack Edwards, and Patricia Kostek
Trio No. 2 in C Minor by Camilo Aybar

Dr. Jack Edwards and Marsha Elliott-Edwards
Blossom, a world premiere of a new duo for flute and saxophone, specifically written for both Jack and Marsha and for the Big IDEA event!

Alex Chen and Robert Holliston
Now Sleeps The Crimson Petal by Roger Quilter; Sure On This Shining Night by Samuel Barber; Love’s Philosophy by Roger Quilter

Wes Carroll Confabulation
‘Put it On’ and ‘Capitalocene’

Conservatory Chat
2SLGBTQIA+ artists have made such important contributions to the Conservatory culture, our local community, and beyond. Panelists will discuss some of those contributions as well as the importance of celebrating pride in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. As the final part in our inaugural Conservatory Chat series, this discussion will inform or confirm attendees’ understanding the important presence 2SLGBTQIA+ people have in our artistic community. After exploring the fundamental topics of allyship and unconscious bias, followed by hope, celebrating Pride is the perfect way to wrap up our inaugural Conservatory Chat series!
This conversation is moderated by Dr. Jack Edwards.
Special Guests

Ace Mann, originally from the K’ómoks First Nation and now living on the Coast Salish Territories, is a lifelong queer advocate who has volunteered in GSRD spaces for over 20 years and currently serves as President of the Victoria Pride Society, striving to enhance community focus, transparency, and engagement.

Geri Kramer is a transgender tattoo artist who, since coming out in early 2020, has infused her artwork with authenticity, valuing client collaboration, and blending traditional bold lines with illustrative textures, while advocating for inclusivity in the tattoo community.

The Big IDEA: Sharing our music and telling our stories
A series of three events including musical performances and conversation in creating a more inclusive and equitable music space. These uplifting and informative, faculty forward events focus on the principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) through the lens of the vibrant 2SLGBTQIA+ community. These events are offered through support from the City of Victoria.

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.

An Evening with Art Napoleon, Hosted by Ry Moran
2024-06-21 18:30 - 19:30 | Robin & Winifred Wood Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4, Canada
Tickets are free, but limited so RSVP is required. Reserve your spot today!
Entry for this event in Wood Hall will be at the Victoria Conservatory of Music – 900 Johnson Street.

About the event

In celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day, join us for an evening of music and discussion with singer-songwriter Art Napoleon. As Art prepares to return to his home territories, the evening will be part conversation, part performance and part farewell. Hosted by Victoria Conservatory Guest Artist in Residence Ry Moran, Art will be sharing a number of his songs alongside reflections on his musical journey.

About Art Napoleon
Art Napoleon is host and co-producer of APTN’s popular show Moosemeat & Marmalade, an international food series that showcases Indigenous foods, traditional knowledge and outdoor cooking techniques.

This former chief is as comfortable on a big city stage or boardroom as he is skinning a moose in a hailstorm with a pocketknife. Art grew up in the boreal forests and mountains of Northern BC where he learned bush-skills including traditional plant use and outdoor cooking.

Art holds an MA in Language Revitalization from the University of Victoria, is a language educator and practices land based activities on a seasonal basis. Based in Victoria BC, Art remains connected to his home territory and his Cree and Dane Zaa roots.

When he is not producing TV, he tours regularly as a performer and speaker. His moose stew has been known to cure hangovers and his campfire tales have mended broken hearts…or so the stories go.

About Ry Moran

This school year, Ry Moran has assisted the Conservatory through a guest faculty appointment in Music and Reconciliation.

Over the last year, Ry has aimed to celebrate the role of music in advancing Truth and Reconciliation, while also helping explore the responsibilities carried by its implications for music centers like the Victoria Conservatory of Music in its mission of learning, performance, and wellness. At the same time, Ry has worked on an upcoming album, and be supported in the ongoing production of his podcast Taapwaywin.
The project is supported by the City of Victoria’s Music Strategy program.

A multi-instrumentalist, electronic music composer, podcaster, and member of the Red River Métis, Ry Moran is more often known as one of Canada’s central figures in Truth and Reconciliation. Growing up in Victoria, Ry moved Winnipeg in 2010 to serve as the Director of Statement Gathering for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He then served as the founding Director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) and is presently the Associate University Librarian – Reconciliation at the University of Victoria, the first of its kind in the country.

Ry’s passion for teaching, arts and music is abundant. His commitment to the principles of Truth and Reconciliation is unwavering.

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.

Adult Combo Showcase
2024-06-16 13:00 - 16:00 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Entrance to this event is at the Victoria Conservatory of Music at 900 Johnson Street. Admission is by donation.

An afternoon concert with six Adult Combo Groups playing music from Jazz to Contemporary classics, under the direction of Joey Smith.
Attendees are welcome to drop in and stay for the length of their preference. To honour the dedication and artistry of our student performers, we kindly ask guests to enter the venue during applause breaks between performances.
Interested in joining an Adult Combo group? Speak to our Front desk about finding the right fit and connecting you with Joey.

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.

String Faculty Recital
2024-06-15 15:00 - 16:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Admission by donation. Entry for this concert will be at the Victoria Conservatory of Music – 900 Johnson Street.

Victoria Conservatory of Music celebrates its 60th anniversary with Focus on Strings – A series of concerts featuring internationally renowned artists including the New Orford String Quartet (May 16), CelloFest: Paul Marleyn and Friends in Recital (May 17), and the Victoria Conservatory Strings Faculty Artists in Concert (June 15).
These concerts celebrate the work of Victoria Conservatory’s Founding Head of Strings Sydney Humphreys, and cellist James Hunter, who together with the Conservatory’s founding Principal, pianist Dr. Robin Wood, performed as Trio Victoria across Vancouver Island and throughout Western Canada, growing awareness of the newly founded Music Conservatory in Victoria, and the excellent quality of music instruction it would become nationally renowned for.
On June 15, come and hear members of our own Victoria Conservatory String Faculty performing some of the great ensemble works from the 18th, 19th, and 20th century.

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.

An Evening with MaMuse and the Gettin' Higher Choir
2024-06-14 19:00 - 21:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Entrance for this show is on 900 Johnson Street

Wholeheartedly fed by the folk and gospel traditions, MaMuse (Sorah Nutting and Karisha Longaker) create uplifting music to inspire the world into thriving. Interweaving brilliant and haunting harmony with lyrics born of honed emotional intelligence, MaMuse invokes a musical presence that inspires the opening of the heart. Playing a family of varied acoustic instruments including upright bass, guitar, mandolins, ukulele, and flutes, these two powerful women embody a love for all life. The synergy that is created through this musical connection is palpable and truly moving to witness. They are joined on this tour by two fine musicians to round out the fabulous quartet.

Since 1996, the Gettin’ Higher Choir has been welcoming all voices and affirming singing as everyone’s birthright. They will bring a wide range of soul-nourishing songs, mostly a cappella, to this fundraising concert, their 25th annual concert to support development work and disaster relief efforts in Mozambique. The choir has loved the songs of MaMuse for many years, and they look forward to sharing the stage with them!

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.

School of Contemporary Music Faculty Concert
2024-06-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Please obtain your ticket for the concert to attend! Tickets are offered for free or pay what you can.
Entry for this concert is at The Victoria Conservatory of Music entrance at 900 Johnson Street.

Join us on June 11th in Alix Goolden Performance Hall for an unforgettable evening of musical diversity as the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s School of Contemporary Music presents its Faculty Concert.

Led by Artistic Director Daniel Lapp, this concert showcases the very talented faculty we have teaching within the Chwyl Family School of Contemporary Music. Performances will feature music spanning a broad array of genres, from jazz, folk and rock to hip-hop and electronica! A special feature in this concert will be the introduction of this year’s winners of the Henwood Family Prize for Emerging Artists. These young talents, ages 12 to 21 each receive a $1000 cash prize and an opportunity to either perform their song live on stage as part of this concert or to be recorded professionally at the Conservatory. Join us as we celebrate the power and diversity of music this year during the Conservatory’s 60th anniversary, which includes marking the 10-year milestone next season of the Chwyl Family School of Contemporary Music!

Featuring performances by:

Joey Smith

Wes Carrol

Anna Lyman

Sahara Sloan

Kelly Nordstrom

Stephanie Cadman

Alexandra Berg

Jonathan Dyck

Issah Contractor

Ry Moran

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.

Awards Day 2024
2024-06-10 19:00 - 21:00 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
The entrance to this event is at 900 Johnson Street

A chance to celebrate the incredible work of our students and the success of our faculty! Our students are presented with scholarships, and the audience is treated to amazing musical performances representing each department, including keyboard, voice, strings, woodwinds, and contemporary.

Contributions from people who care about opportunities to learn and perform music make a difference in the quality and scope of music programs the Conservatory can offer. We are grateful to the donors whose generous contributions make these scholarships available.

Click HERE to learn more about scholarships, including a full list of available scholarship awards.

Flute Choir Exchange
2024-06-09 09:30 - 16:00 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Entrance is at the Victoria Conservatory of Music at 900 Johnson Street.

This event is hosted by the Academy Flute Choir, led by director Judith Pazder.

Featuring performances by the Academy Flute Choir, Nanaimo Flute Choir Quartet, Capilano Flute Choir, and Fluterrific, as well as group play-alongs and a presentation by guest speaker Soile Stratkauskas, baroque flutist and founder of Victoria Baroque.

Auditors are welcome to purchase a full-day pass and attend all or some of the events. Bring your flute if you would like to join in during the whole group play-along segments throughout the day.

A potluck lunch provided by the Academy Flute Choir is offered for participants attending from registered flute choir groups. Please note lunch is not provided for auditors not attending as part of a registered flute choir group.

Before registering, please fill out the questionnaire found here.

Registration Fee: $20

Register Now

Flute Choir Exchange Concert
2024-06-08 19:30 - 21:00 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Entrance for this concert is at the Victoria Conservatory of Music at 900 Johnson Street. Admission by donation. Suggested donation $10.

TOP STAFF: Showcasing the Best of BC Flute Choirs
Featuring performances by the High Notes Flute Choir and Fluterrific, this concert will highlight the wealth of repertoire written for flute choir. These two flute choirs will also be joined by the Victoria Conservatory of Music Academy Flute Choir, Nanaimo Flute Choir, and Capilano Flute Choir in a mass choir performance to close out the show. These flute choirs have travelled to Victoria from across BC for this event – from piccolo to bass flute, the entire flute family is included and you won’t want to miss this spectacular concert.

As part of the weekend’s events, the Flute Choir Exchange is happening at the Victoria Conservatory of Music on Sunday, June 9. For more information, check out the registration page here.

Winds & Brass Department Collage Concert
2024-06-05 19:00 - 20:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Join us for solo and chamber music performances by students (and sometimes faculty!) from the Winds & Brass Department. Please note: Entrance to this event in Alix Goolden Performance Hall is at 900 Johnson Street. Admission is by donation.

The Sounds of Spring - Presented by The Victoria Children's Choir
2024-06-02 15:00 - 16:30, 2024-06-01 15:00 - 16:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Entry for this concert will be at The Victoria Conservatory of Music – 900 Johnson Street. The balcony is closed for this event.

Doors open at 2:30pm

Artistic Director: David Stratkauskas

The Victoria Children’s Choir is one of the top choral and music organizations in Canada. Under the leadership of an outstanding artistic team, our choristers are exposed to the highest standards of music education, encompassing vocal technique, musicianship and performance opportunities, for a full immersion in the transformative world of choral music.

In a unique and supportive environment, 180 choristers aged 7–20 from throughout Greater Victoria study and perform an array of contemporary and classical repertoire from around the world. The choir tours internationally, and is regularly invited to collaborate with renowned musicians, including the Victoria Symphony, Pacific Opera Victoria, Victoria Jazz Society, and Victoria Baroque.

The Village Choir Spring Concert
2024-05-25 19:30 - 21:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Entry for this concert will be at The Victoria Conservatory of Music – 900 Johnson Street. The balcony is closed for this event.

The Village Choir is back at Alix Goolden Performance Hall for their Spring Concert featuring performances by Oliver Swain, Claire Butterfield, Ahsley Wey, Damian Graham, and a community choir for all people and all voices. Music by Coldplay, Redbone, Hozier, John Lennon, Natasha Bedingfield, and Bob Marley, Village Choir concerts are always different and unforgettable celebrations of community and music.

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.

Spring Serenata 2024 (Le Grand Concert!)
2024-05-24 17:00 - 21:00 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Please note: Entrance to this event in Alix Goolden Performance Hall is at 900 Johnson Street. Admission by Donation.

The Spring Serenata (Le Grand Concert!) is an end-of-year Concert presented by Victoria Conservatory of Music Voice Department, which allows students the opportunity to perform repertoire that they have been working on during the year in an informal concert production setting.
This year the Classical Concert (5:00pm to 6:30pm) will be comprised of students singing classical / Musical Theatre repertoire while the Contemporary Concert (7:00pm to 9:00pm) will present students singing excerpts from the contemporary song repertoire.
It promises to be an exciting evening of music & song! Come and Join us. Admission is by donation & everyone is most welcome!

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.

New Orford String Quartet presents Pizzicato!
2024-05-16 19:30 - 21:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Entry for this concert will be at the Victoria Conservatory of Music – 900 Johnson Street.

Victoria Conservatory of Music celebrates 60 years!
We begin our celebration with Focus on Strings – A series of concerts featuring internationally renowned artists including the New Orford String Quartet (May 16), CelloFest: Paul Marleyn and Friends in Recital (May 17), and the Victoria Conservatory Strings Faculty Artists in Concert (June 15).
These concerts celebrate the work of Victoria Conservatory’s Founding Head of Strings Sydney Humphreys, and cellist James Hunter, who together with the Conservatory’s founding Principal, pianist Dr. Robin Wood, performed as Trio Victoria across Vancouver Island and throughout Western Canada, growing awareness of the newly founded Music Conservatory in Victoria, and the excellent quality of music instruction it would become nationally renowned for.
The Victoria Conservatory of Music is very excited to welcome the New Orford String Quartet, and especially violinist Jonathan Crow, one of the Conservatory’s most prominent Alumni, who studied with the Conservatory’s founding Head of Strings, Sydney Humphreys.

The New Orford String Quartet returns to the Alix Goolden Performance Hall with a captivating program showcasing the diverse ways in which pizzicato, a technique where the strings are plucked instead of bowed, is used to shape the expressive landscapes of string quartet music:

Caroline Shaw’s “Blueprint” experiments with pizzicato textures, creating intricate rhythmic patterns that weave a mesmerizing sonic tapestry.
Ana Sokolovic’s “Commedia delle’arte” utilizes pizzicato to evoke the playful, lively spirit of the Italian theater, adding a delightful rhythmic energy to the music.
Beethoven’s Harp quartet incorporates pizzicato passages to enhance the ethereal and dreamlike atmosphere of the piece.
Maurice Ravel’s magnificent string quartet takes the listener through a whole beautiful and distinctive sound world as heard through the prism of Ravel’s gorgeous harmonic language.

Throughout this program, pizzicato serves as a powerful tool, showcasing the expressive possibilities and adding a unique sonic dimension to the string quartet repertoire.

Caroline Shaw: “Blueprint”
Beethoven: String Quartet in E flat Major Op. 74 (“Harp”)
Intermission
Ana Sokolovic: Commedia delle’arte
Ravel: String Quartet in F Major

We acknowledge the generous support of the Gail O’Riordan Climate and the Arts Legacy Fund through the Victoria Foundation.

About the New Orford String Quartet
Andrew Wan, violin, concertmaster of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
Jonathan Crow, violin, Concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Conservatory of Music alum
Sharon Wei, viola, Associate professor of viola at Western University
Brian Manker, cello, Principal Cellist of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra

Four musicians with equally stellar pedigrees formed the New Orford String Quartet with the goal of developing a new model for a touring string quartet. Their concept – to bring four elite orchestral leaders and soloists together on a regular basis over many years to perform chamber music at the highest level – has resulted in a quartet that maintains a remarkably fresh perspective while bringing a palpable sense of joy to each performance. The Toronto Star has described this outcome as “nothing short of electrifying.”
Learn more about the New Orford String Quartet at https://www.neworford.com/about

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.

A message from our sponsor
Metamorphosis: A Healing Journey features 120 pages of beautiful photography, poetry, quotes and short pieces that inspire contemplation and expanded consciousness. This book premiered during Earth Week this past April and is a CreativelyUnited.org collaborative production in partnership with Climate & The Arts.

CreativelyUnited.org is a free community solutions hub that offers a 24/7 event calendar, community blog, videos and resources, plus features a directory of more than 270 area-wide non-profits doing good in our community.

Contributors include: Winnipeg photographer/writer Sam Baardman; esteemed Kwakwaka’wakw poet, Krystal Cook; a touching written piece by Jonathan O’Riordan; photography and writing by multi-media producer, Frances Litman; a powerful lyrical piece by Kwakwaka’wakw and Nuu-Cha-Nulth artist, Alex Taylor-McCallum; and evocative writing and imagery by Robert Sandford, Senior Government Relations Liaison for Global Climate Emergency Response at the United Nations Institute for Water, Environment, and Health.

Please visit CreativelyUnited.org to learn more.

Senior Collegium Chamber and Vocal Collegium Concert
2024-05-07 19:00 - 21:00 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Entry for this concert is at The Victoria Conservatory of Music entrance at 900 Johnson Street. Admission by donation.
Family, friends, and the public are welcome to watch the award winning students of the Victoria Conservatory of Music Young Artists Collegium Program perform Chamber Music: Beethoven, Arensky, Milhaud, Bartok, Beeftink and Gaubert. Always astonishing!

Vocal Collegium members will also perform duets by various composers including Fauré, Donaudy, Quilter and Schumann.

What is the Young Artists Collegium Program?

Founded in 2006, Collegium is an enriched program for talented young classical musicians – singers, pianists and other instrumentalists – brought together with outstanding teachers to create a lively, collaborative educational experience devoted to the pursuit of musical excellence.
Learn more about Collegium.

The Big IDEA: Sharing our music and telling our stories
2024-05-05 14:30 - 16:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Obtain your tickets for The Big IDEA concert! Tickets are offered for free or pay what you can. Entry for this concert will be at the Victoria Conservatory of Music – 900 Johnson Street.

The Big IDEA: Sharing our music and telling our stories
A series of events including performances and conversation in creating a more inclusive and equitable music space. These uplifting and informative, faculty forward events focus on the principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) through the lens of the vibrant 2SLGBTQIA+ community. These events are offered through support from the City of Victoria.
Our next events are Sunday, May 5- Hope in 2SLGBTQIA+ community and Sunday, June 23- Celebrate Pride!

Sunday, May 5 – Hope in the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community
Enjoy an afternoon of beautiful music, performed by Conservatory faculty who identify as members or allies of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. This concert event will also feature a panel discussion with invited guests focusing on the importance of hope as well as how we all can nurture our mental health.
Faculty and Special Guest Musical Performers

Mary Byrne, flute
Alexander Richards, saxophone
Jany Lu, piano
Robert Holliston, piano
Marsha Elliott-Edwards, flute
Anna Bigland-Pritchard, voice
Claire Saunders, dancer

Conservatory Chat
Invited guests bring their experience and expertise to discuss the topic of hope in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community as well as the importance of maintaining our mental health as we navigate our sometimes complicated lives. This Conservatory Chat will strengthen our sense of hope through exploration of the positive influences and support we experience. As well, panelists will discuss ways everyone can strengthen and enhance their mental health. This panel discussion will conclude with a short Q & A for the panelists.
This conversation is moderated by Jack Edwards

Special Guests
Ace Mann
Originally from the Unceded Traditional Territories of the K’ómoks First Nation, they now live on the Unceded Coast Salish Territories of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples. A lifelong queer whose passions have always revolved around amplifying marginalized voices and providing support to their community, Ace has volunteered for GSRD spaces for over 20 years from here to “Manitoba” and back. They are a trained neuroscientist, psychotherapist, and the president of the Victoria Pride Society. Beginning in academia, Ace studied the immunology of brains at a molecular level.
After losing a sibling to suicide, they moved their studies into counselling as a way to study how brains protect themselves in a different way. Seeing the ripple effect that a person’s loss could have on a community, Ace likes to take any opportunity to create a ripple effect of good; the potential impact for the mental health community and the people who would benefit from their work continues to be the driving force behind Ace’s passions.
Ace plans to work towards a Ph.D. in the near future; they are interested in syndemics and social structure and, in particular, the vast inequities faced by equity-deserving people who are disproportionately affected by mental and physical epidemics caused by societal systems of oppression.
Together with their partner, Ace co-founded the Trans and Loved community on Instagram. As avid scuba divers, Ace and their partner are happiest on, in, or under the water. Otherwise, you can find Ace volunteering with VPS, writing research papers, hiking with their dog and partner.

Katree Weick
As a white settler living and learning on the unceded lands of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, Katree is committed to anti-racism, decolonizing, and staying critical in their social work practice. They were born on the stolen lands of the Klallam peoples, and her ancestors hail from Germany, France, England, Belgium and Poland. They Identify as Queer using both they and she pronouns. She is Polyamorous, Bisexual, straight sized and deals with long term invisible chronic illness. As a Social Worker registered with “BC” and “Alberta,” and as a human living in a gender rich and relationship diverse community, She opened an alternative practice offering counselling support to folks who, like them, experience life from an anti-normative lens. They are a creative being at heart bouncing between different art forms and creative processes which fuel up her life, and remind them that in all of the systemic challenges we face, we can ignite change with our hearts, our hands, and our voices together.

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is at ground-level and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator located on the first floor: as you enter the building go down the ramp to your right and the elevator is on the left at the bottom. Priority seating can be provided at concerts if you have accessibility issues; please contact the Venues Department . Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the main floor, beside the lobby in the Reception and Registration area.
