Victoria Conservatory of Music

Joy in Every Note
2025-12-06 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-07 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Vancouver) | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Doors open at 1:30pm – Entry for these concerts will be at 900 Johnson Street. The Balcony is closed for this event.

Now in their 25th Anniversary season, we invite you to join the Victoria Children’s Choir (VCC) for a heartwarming musical celebration of the festive winter holidays. The VCC inspires young voices and brings communities together through song. Joy in Every Note will feature performances by all VCC ensembles—Prelude, Recital, Concert, and Youth Choirs—showcasing singers aged 7 to 20 in a joyful and diverse musical program. This concert is a celebration of the joy, unity, and artistry that choral music brings to all.

Please Note: Not suitable for children under 6

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is wheelchair accessible at street level. There’s a drop-off zone out front, elevator access inside, and several accessible washrooms, including a gender-neutral washroom.

For full details, visit vcm.bc.ca/plan-your-visit

Winter Serenata
2025-12-09 17:00 - 21:00 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Entrance to this event in Alix Goolden Performance Hall is at 900 Johnson Street. Admission by Donation.

As the duration of the concert may vary depending on the number of participants, 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.

About the Winter Serenata
The Winter Serenata 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.

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is wheelchair accessible at street level. There’s a drop-off zone out front, elevator access inside, and several accessible washrooms, including a gender-neutral washroom.

We honour Canoo and Access 2 Passes. For priority seating or other accommodations, contact us in advance.

For full details, visit vcm.bc.ca/plan-your-visit

Young Artists Academy Junior Chamber Ensembles and Junior Orchestras Concert
2025-12-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Entry for this concert in Alix Goolden Performance Hall is at The Victoria Conservatory of Music entrance at 900 Johnson Street. Admission by donation.
End time is subject to change.

About the concert

Join us for a special concert featuring students from the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s Junior Orchestras and Junior Young Artists Academy. Enjoy performances by the Junior Chamber Ensembles and orchestras including Junior Orchestra, and the Intermediate Orchestra. This showcase highlights the ensemble work these young musicians have developed throughout the term — a joyful celebration of growth, collaboration, and musical expression.

The Junior Chamber Ensembles are part of the Conservatory’s Gary Karr Young Artists Performance Academy and includes advanced string students ages 12 to 15 who are selected through audition. These students participate in weekly chamber music coaching, rehearsals, and mentorship, building both their musical and leadership skills.

Venue Accessibility

The 900 Johnson Street entrance is wheelchair accessible at street level. There’s a drop-off zone out front, elevator access inside, and several accessible washrooms, including a gender-neutral washroom.

We honour Canoo and Access 2 Passes. For priority seating or other accommodations, contact us in advance.

For full details, visit vcm.bc.ca/plan-your-visit

Winter Harp
2025-12-12 15:00 - 22:00 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Entrance for this concert in the Alix Goolden Performance Hall is at 900 Johnson Street

Two concerts this year!
The Matinee is at 3pm with Doors at 2:30pm
The Evening concert is at 7:30pm with Doors at 7pm.

Please make sure you select the ticket for the time you wish to attend.

In its 32nd year, and as popular today as ever, one of this country’s most joyous annual traditions returns to Victoria this December with two performances!

Known for sold-out houses and standing ovations, this ensemble is a “must-see” ticket on the holiday calendar. Winter Harp is a joyous concert experience that has captured the spirit of the season, and audience’s hearts, for more than three decades. On stage, Winter Harp’s outstanding musicians and singers, clad in beautiful medieval attire, perform a collection of music that ranges from familiar carols to Celtic, medieval and world tunes.

The Alix Goolden theatre sets a gorgeous backdrop for the ensemble’s golden Celtic and classical harps, drums, tambourines, temple bells, flutes, and an assortment of beautiful, ancient and rare instruments, including the ethereal-sounding bass psaltery (the only one like it in the world), the organistrum (an early form of the hurdy-gurdy) and the Swedish nyckelharpa.

For more than 30 years, tens of thousands of people have made Winter Harp their annual tradition — now that is something to celebrate! Winter Harp . . . Christmas begins here.

Official Website: Winter Harp

Venue Accessibility
The 900 Johnson Street entrance is wheelchair accessible at street level. There’s a drop-off zone out front, elevator access inside, and several accessible washrooms, including a gender-neutral washroom.

For full details, visit vcm.bc.ca/plan-your-visit

Holiday Music Sessions at Craigdarroch Castle
2025-12-13 11:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-14 11:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-20 11:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-21 11:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-22 11:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-23 11:00 - 14:00 | Craigdarroch Castle, 1050 Joan Crescent, Victoria, BC, V8S 3L5, Canada
Step into the festive season with live holiday music in the historic halls of Craigdarroch Castle, the Conservatory’s home from 1968–1979. Victoria Conservatory musicians will perform seasonal favourites in the Drawing Room and Dance Hall, as part of the Castle’s holiday celebrations, surrounded by Victorian‑era decorations.

Dates:

Saturday & Sunday, December 13–14

Friday through Monday, December 20–23

Times: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Location: Craigdarroch Castle, 1050 Joan Crescent, Victoria, BC

Performances are included with Castle admission. For full details about holiday offerings at the Castle, visit thecastle.ca

Daniel Lapp's Home for Christmas Concert
2025-12-17 19:30 - 21:00, 2025-12-18 19:30 - 21:00 | Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 1E5, Canada
Tickets are available at the McPherson Box Office (not the Victoria Conservatory of Music), charge by phone at 250.386.6121 or toll-free at 1.888.717.9121 or online at www.rmts.bc.ca.

For more information about Accessibility at the Royal Theatre, visit https://www.rmts.bc.ca/visit/accessibility/

The Victoria Conservatory of Music is delighted to bring back Daniel Lapp’s beloved Home for Christmas concerts this holiday season! Join us on Wednesday, December 17, and Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 7:30 pm for a joyful 90-minute celebration filled with festive music and community spirit.

Under Daniel Lapp’s inspiring leadership, a vibrant group of student and faculty musicians, as well as special guests, come together to create a rich holiday experience. Featuring the talented young fiddlers of the BC Fiddle Orchestra, the energetic Folkestra!, and the uplifting voices of the Joy of Life Choir, alongside the lively Shiny H’ornaments, Swing’n Shepherds, and the Strings of Lights house band, this concert truly embodies the spirit of inclusivity and connection.

Special Guests

A versatile soprano and voice artist, Cathy Fern Lewis has been a leading figure in Canada’s professional new music and art scene since 1974. From traditional to contemporary repertoire, children’s presentations to pop concerts, her performances inspire audiences of all ages. She has collaborated with ensembles such as the Steve Reich Ensemble, Arraymusic, and Vancouver New Music, premiered numerous works by Canadian composers, and continues to bring new music to life with projects including collaborations with pianist/harpsichordist Katelyn Clark.

We are thrilled to welcome a boundary-pushing celestial folk trio featuring Daniel Lapp, Adam Dobres, and Adrian Dolan to this year’s Home for Christmas Concert. Together, these three celebrated Canadian musicians blend virtuosic fiddling, guitar, piano, and soulful musical storytelling into a sound that is both intimate and expansive. Their inspired collaboration brings extraordinary energy, warmth, and artistry to the stage—perfect for this festive holiday tradition.

Music That Brings Us Together

Home for Christmas is more than a concert—it’s a celebration of community, accessibility, and the shared joy of making music across generations. As a proud non-profit, all proceeds support the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s commitment to providing inclusive music education and wellness programs, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to experience the magic of music.

This holiday season, join us at the Royal Theatre to fill the space with warmth, laughter, and the timeless spirit of togetherness through beloved Canadian Christmas tunes and heartwarming seasonal favourites.

Sponsored by Peninsula Co-op

Media Sponsors: Chek News | Rogers Media

Winter Break- Langford Building and Office Closed
2025-12-24 - 2026-01-04 | British Columbia
Our Langford location is closed for Winter Break from December 24, 2025 to January 4, 2026. For a complete list of Building and Office closures, please click here.

Winter Break- Victoria Building and Offices Closed
2025-12-24 - 2026-01-01 | British Columbia
Our Victoria location is closed for Winter Break from December 24, 2025 to January 1, 2026. For a complete list of Building and Office closures, please click here.

Victoria Conservatory Postsecondary presents: Francis Dick in Conversation
2026-01-22 12:30 - 13:30 | Robin & Winifred Wood Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4, Canada
Entrance to this event is at the Victoria Conservatory of Music at 900 Johnson Street. Free admission.

Join us for a special conversation with renowned Native artist Francis Dick, Victoria Conservatory Associate Dean David Visentin, and Postsecondary Studies students. Francis will share about her powerful art and stories, with a highlight being the Raven Song mural at the Conservatory entrance (900 Johnson Street). This vibrant mural celebrates music as a force for connection, healing, and transformation, embodying our commitment to community, culture, and the arts.

Also featured will be the guitar designed by Francis that inspired the mural, performed by Victoria Conservatory/Camosun guitar student Cedar Lopatecki. Cedar first played this remarkable instrument at the Conservatory’s September 29th event, An Evening for Truth and Reconciliation: Music, Art, and Dialogue, and will be performing again at this talk.

About the Victoria Conservatory Postsecondary Department
The Victoria Conservatory of Music’s Department of Postsecondary Studies offers programs through its longstanding partnership with Camosun College.
As a community of ambitious artist mentors and staff who believe strongly in the Conservatory’s mission and vision, we are dedicated to creating a learning environment where each student can thrive. We work to incorporate the values of accessibility and inclusion into all that we do.
We work together to identify each person’s strengths, professional development goals, accessibility needs, and identification and communication preferences. We adapt our working styles and build our skill sets together to develop a culture of mutual trust and broad support while meeting the specific needs of our students and our programs.

Francis Dick
Born in 1959 into the Musqamakw Dzawadaenutw Band (the four tribes of Kingcome Inlet), Francis Dick is a contemporary Native artist and a member of the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation. She is a descendant of the supernatural Wolf, Kawadelekala, who became the first of the Kingcome people.

The image of this mythical being is prominent in much of Francis Dick’s native art, acknowledging her contemporary ties to her cultural heritage. Francis holds this very near to the centre of her spirit, as she relies on this hereditary knowledge for her strength. “Before anything else, my work is about honouring my life process, my journey, through my fires, from places of pain and darkness to places that I might stand in my truth; my work is not a career, it’s a way of life.”

Francis began her career as a social worker after receiving her degree from the University of Victoria, but quickly realized that her true calling in life was to honour her natural artistic talents.
Francis Dick’s first aboriginal painting, Kawadelekala, was created, then published, as a way to honour her grandmother’s life and spirit after her death in December of 1985. Four months later, her youngest brother, Jesse, took his own life. She created her second aboriginal painting as a way to acknowledge her love and honour for her brother. The pain of losing Jesse took her to a doorway where her journey of self discovery began through her northwest coast art.

Francis Dick is an integral member of the native art community, and is frequently requested to speak for various community organizations, women’s groups and university classes. She has been invited to speak as a guest lecturer as far away as Europe and has had native art exhibitions all around the globe, including China and the Middle East. Francis’ native art has been exhibited in various art galleries and museums, including a permanent exhibit at the Ethnological Museum in Berlin. Her aboriginal paintings, as well as articles and interviews, have been published in books, calendars and magazines all over North America, Asia and Europe.

German Lieder Competition
2026-01-28 17:00 - 21:00 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Entrance to this event in Alix Goolden Performance Hall is at 900 Johnson Street. Admission by Donation.

As the duration of the concert may vary depending on the number of participants, 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. Let us come together to support these aspiring musicians on their journey.

Voice Competitions

The Voice Department offers annual Song Competitions for current students of the Victoria Conservatory of Music to perform, compete, and receive feedback from renowned and respected adjudicators.

First and Second Prizes as well as Honourable Mentions are available to be awarded for each competition. Spirit of Song awards may also be given at the discretion of the adjudicators.

View the list of Voice Competitions here.

About the German Lieder Competition

The Voice Department provides this opportunity for students of all ages and abilities to perform one Germain Lieder song.

Student participants perform in Alix Goolden Performance Hall and receive feedback from adjudicators.

Venue Accessibility

The 900 Johnson Street entrance is wheelchair accessible at street level. There’s a drop-off zone out front, elevator access inside, and several accessible washrooms, including a gender-neutral washroom.

We honour Canoo and Access 2 Passes. For priority seating or other accommodations, contact us in advance.

For full details, visit vcm.bc.ca/plan-your-visit

Strings Open House
2026-02-01 11:00 - 12:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
The Strings Open House is in Alix Goolden Performance Hall (entrance at 900 Johnson Street). This event is free and registration is encouraged. Register here.

Interested in the Strings program at the Victoria Conservatory of Music? Join us for this free event!

Families and prospective students of all ages are invited to learn about our lesson options, meet the instructors, and enjoy performances by students at the Strings Open House. Newcomers can explore the Instrument Petting Zoo, while students who are ready for the next step in their musical journey may sign up for a mini lesson. We hope you will join us and explore everything the Victoria Conservatory Strings program has to offer!

Schedule

11:00-11:30: instrument petting zoo in Alix Goolden Performance Hall; mini cello lessons (first come, first served)
11:30-12:00: performances by students and faculty in Alix Goolden Performance Hall
12:00-12:30: instrument petting zoo in Alix Goolden Performance Hall, mini violin lessons (first come, first served)

Venue Accessibility

The 900 Johnson Street entrance is wheelchair accessible at street level. There’s a drop-off zone out front, elevator access inside, and several accessible washrooms, including a gender-neutral washroom.

For full details, visit vcm.bc.ca/plan-your-visit

Postsecondary Info Night
2026-02-05 19:00 - 20:00 | Victoria Conservatory of Music, 900 Johnson St, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4, CA
The event is hosted both in-person and online on Thursday, February 5 at 7:00pm.

In-person– Victoria Conservatory of Music, Green Room (located just to the left of our main reception desk at the Victoria Conservatory of Music at 900 Johnson Street).
Online via Microsoft Teams. Click here to join.

If you’re unable to attend on this date, we’ll be hosting another Postsecondary Info Nights on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. It will take place at the same time and room.

About Info Night
The Victoria Conservatory of Music Postsecondary Department hosts its annual Info Night for students and parents interested in learning more about Postsecondary Programs including:

Accredited by Camosun College. Since September 1979, the Victoria Conservatory of Music has proudly represented Camosun College as its Music Department.

Diploma in Music Performance – 2 years

Certificate in Music Technologies – 18 months (online)

Certificate in Music Creativity and Performance Foundations – 8 months

Accredited by the BC Private Institute Training Branch of the BC Ministry of Advanced Education

Certificate in Advanced Music Studies (AIMS) – 1 year, Full time or part time study in one of four pillars: Performance, Teaching, Recording & Production, and Business.

The Postsecondary Info Night includes an overview of programs from David Visentin (Associate Dean of Postsecondary Studies) and Megan Harton (Postsecondary Program Assistant), as well as a review of admission requirements, application procedures, and information on dual credit classes through the South Island Partnership (SIP).

Questions are welcome at any time in the presentation and registration is not required.

Can’t make it to Info Night?
Check out our website to learn more about our programs and why to choose the Victoria Conservatory of Music!

We’d love to hear from you!

We’re more than happy to connect with you one-on-one. Call 250-386-5311 or email David Visentin or Megan Harton at postsecondary@vcm.bc.ca to arrange a time.

Voice Faculty Concert- POSTPONED
2026-02-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
Jan 30 update: This concert has been postponed. We appreciate your understanding and will share a new date soon.

Entry for this event in Alix Goolden Performance Hall is at 900 Johnson Street.
Admission by donation ($20 suggested donation at the door)

About the concert
Join us for an inspiring evening of song at the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s Voice Faculty Concert. This special concert showcases the artistry and passion that defines the Conservatory’s vocal program—an unforgettable celebration of the human voice.

Venue Accessibility

The 900 Johnson Street entrance is wheelchair accessible at street level. There’s a drop-off zone out front, elevator access inside, and several accessible washrooms, including a gender-neutral washroom.

We honour Canoo and Access 2 Passes. For priority seating or other accommodations, contact us in advance.

For full details, visit vcm.bc.ca/plan-your-visit

Discover Strings! Family Day Weekend Free Drop-In
2026-02-14 13:00 - 14:30 | Victoria Conservatory of Music – Westhills, Langford, 1314 – Lakepoint Way, Langford, British Columbia, V9B 0S2
Curious about the violin, viola, or cello? Everyone is invited to try an instrument at the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s Westhills location and learn about the many ways to begin or continue your musical journey. Celebrate the Family Day long weekend by exploring music together!

Location: Victoria Conservatory of Music, Langford (YMCA/YWCA building, library entrance)

Date: Saturday, February 14

Time: 1:00pm to 2:30pm

Cost: Free!

For kids ages 6-11, see if our new Strings for Beginners class is the right fit. No experience needed!
Class begins March 31 | Register here

Spark to Flame Student Showcase
2026-02-21 19:30 - 21:30 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
This concert is in Alix Goolden Performance Hall, entrance at 900 Johnson Street.

About Spark to Flame

The annual Spark to Flame concert, presented by the Ann & George Nation Conservatory School of Classical Music, is a beloved tradition that celebrates and nurtures the next generation of musical talent at the Victoria Conservatory of Music.

Soloists are selected through a rigorous audition process and then mentored by Conservatory faculty in the weeks leading up to the performance, including special rehearsals with a full orchestra.

This year’s concert, taking place on Saturday, February 21, 2026, will shine a spotlight on seven exceptional student soloists, joined by an ensemble of their peers, faculty, and professional musicians for an unforgettable evening of inspiring music.

Supported by the CRD Arts & Culture, BC Gaming, and NRS Foundation.

Media Sponsors: Chek News | Rogers Media

Student Soloists
Tyler Evans-Knott, flute
Originally from Curve Lake First Nation in Ontario, Anishinaabe flutist Tyler is pursuing a Flute Performance Diploma, studying with Emily Nagelbach at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. A recipient of several awards and scholarships, Tyler has performed regularly as a soloist and with various orchestras, in the west and in Ontario. He has begun delving into the world of composition, premiering his first work at the 2024 Classical Indigenous Music Residency at the Banff Centre. Most recently, Tyler had the opportunity to attend the renowned Domaine Forget de Charlevoix International Music Academy.

Marlo Karakas, voice
Marlo has been studying at the Conservatory for about 6 years. He is currently in his second year of the Postsecondary diploma program where he studies with Jennifer Turner. In the last year he has placed first in the French and Oratorio competitions and second in the English and Aria competitions. In addition to his work as a soloist, Marlo is also a choral scholar with the St John the Divine chorus under David Stratkauskas.

Angela Pan, piano
Angela has been studying piano with Ingrid Henderson at the Conservatory since the age of 5. She is an award-winning pianist who has earned top distinctions at the Music Festival of Greater Victoria, winning multiple awards in the Junior, Intermediate, and Senior piano divisions between 2022 and 2025. In 2023, she was recommended to the FCMF National Music Festival, where she earned the prestigious Platinum Standard of Achievement—one of only six recipients nationwide. She performed as a concerto soloist in the 2025 Rising Star Concerto Extravaganza in Vancouver, and was recently selected to perform with the Cowichan Consort Orchestra in March 2026.

Walter Rees, violin
Walter Rees has been studying the violin for 13 years, the last four with Müge Büyükçelen at the Conservatory. A graduate of the Gary Karr Young Artists Performance Academy, he has received the Orval and Blanche Beatty Chamber Music Scholarship for Chamber Music multiple times, and the Katarina Scholarship Prize for composition. Walter was previously a Spark to Flame soloist in 2023.

Daniel Sanabria Torres, flute
Daniel is a Colombian flutist from Bogotá who began his musical career at the age of six. At just thirteen years old, he was invited to perform with violinist André Rieu in Bogotá. He now continues his musical training at the Conservatory and performs as a member of the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra. He was named the 2025 winner of the Cowichan Consort Concerto Competition and the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition, and placed first in the FCMF National Music Festival in both Ensemble and Developing Artist divisions, and first in Junior Woodwinds at the Performing Arts BC Festival.

Hope Syyong, violin
Hope is 9 years old, studying under the guidance of Müge Büyükçelen at the Conservatory. Since early childhood, Hope has appreciated how the violin allows her to express herself, from its bold, resonant tone to its sweetest high notes. Her accomplishments in 2025 include receiving the B.E. Scholarship and the Catherine Gillespie Memorial Scholarship from the Conservatory, earning the Adjudicator’s Choice and Baroque Awards at the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival for her expressive playing, and winning the Murray Adaskin Composition Award for her creative work. She is also part of the Gary Karr Young Artists Performance Academy.

Filbert Zhang, piano
Filbert is studying with May-Ling Kwok at the Conservatory and is a member of the Senior Young Artists Performance Academy. He began playing piano at the age of five and regularly participates in community performances such as Conservatory Garden Tours and the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival. A grade 11 student at Mount Douglas Secondary School, he is honoured and grateful to be able to perform at this occasion alongside the orchestra.

Conductor
Grant Harville
Grant Harville acts as Music/Artistic Director for the Civic Orchestra of Victoria, Sidney’s Via Choralis, and the Victoria Harmony Choir. This season, he will additionally lead performances with the Victoria Symphony, Ballet Victoria, the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and the Vancouver Island Chamber Choir. Previously, Grant held director positions with the Great Falls Symphony, Idaho State-Civic Symphony, and Bozeman Symphony, and was Assistant Director with the Georgia Symphony. His guest conducting appearances include the Okanagan Symphony, Boise Philharmonic, Southwest Michigan Symphony, St. Cloud Symphony, and Oistrach Symphony.

Venue Accessibility

The 900 Johnson Street entrance is wheelchair accessible at street level. There’s a drop-off zone out front, elevator access inside, and several accessible washrooms, including a gender-neutral washroom.

We honour Canoo and Access 2 Passes. For priority seating or other accommodations, contact us in advance.

For full details, visit vcm.bc.ca/plan-your-visit

Pacific Baroque Festival 2026 - Concert #1 - Iberian Splendour
2026-02-25 19:00 - 21:00 | Christ Church Cathedral, 930 Burdett Ave,, Victoria,, BC, V8V 3G8
This concert is located at Christ Church Cathedral, 930 Burdett Ave, Victoria

Purchasing Tickets
Single Tickets: $35 + tax & fees and $30 for Seniors/Students + tax & fees are available for purchase here.
Festival Passes: $105 + tax & fees and $90 for Seniors/Students + tax & fees are also available for purchase here.
School-age and post-secondary students: FREE entry at door with presentation of student ID or proof of enrolment

Concert #1: Iberian Splendour is included in the Festival Pass.

About the Concert
With ringing bells, distant drums, lavishly ornamented motets, and ancient plainsong, organist Abraham Ross will present an evening of diverse pieces from one of the most distinctive corners of the keyboard repertory: baroque organ music of Portugal and Spain. In a period marked by a trove of treatises and sources, the invention of new pipework and case designs, and the presence of the organ in both courts and cathedrals, it is evident that Iberian patrons considered the organ most capable of the sublime in music.
Throughout a 250-year period of political upheaval, changing borders, and pressuring outside tastes, the idioms practiced by organists maintained their forms, developing within a microcosm relative to the rest of Europe. The written repertory exhibits an unexpected blend of stylistic influence, owed to a unique coexistence of a lingering Mozarabic diaspora, imperial conquest and exploitation of the Americas, and the religio-political leanings of authorities in the southern kingdoms.

Learn more here: https://www.pacbaroque.com/iberiansplendour

About the Pacific Baroque Festival
The Pacific Baroque Festival is an annual festival hosted by the Victoria Conservatory of Music (Victoria, BC, Canada) in collaboration with Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria.

Pacific Baroque Festival 2026 celebrates its 22nd year from February 25 – March 1, 2026.
‘Spanish Connections,’ will include 5 events with programs intended to highlight the extraordinary music of baroque Spain.

Pacific Baroque Festival 2026 - Concert #2 - Suave Melodies and Spanish Follies
2026-02-26 11:00 - 13:00 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
This concert is in Alix Goolden Performance Hall, entrance at 900 Johnson Street, Victoria

Purchasing Tickets
Single Tickets: $35 + tax & fees and $30 for Seniors/Students + tax & fees are available for purchase here.
Festival Passes: $105 + tax & fees and $90 for Seniors/Students + tax & fees are also available for purchase here.
School-age and post-secondary students: FREE entry at door with presentation of student ID or proof of enrolment

Concert #2: Suave Melodies and Spanish Follies is included in the Festival Pass.

About the Concert
La Modestine:
Marc Destrubé – violin
Natalie Mackie – viola da gamba
Lucas Harris – guitar and theorbo

This intimate program for violin, viola da gamba and lute/guitar, will enlighten Festival attendees to the blossoming of Spanish baroque music after El Siglo de Oro (Spain’s “Golden Century”), which intriguingly blended the diverse cultures of the Hapsburg Empire which existed across Europe and the Americas, as well as drawing on Spain’s Moorish past.

Don’t forget to join our complimentary coffee hour before the concert (10 am start)!

Learn more here: https://www.pacbaroque.com/suavemelodies

About the Pacific Baroque Festival
The Pacific Baroque Festival is an annual festival hosted by the Victoria Conservatory of Music (Victoria, BC, Canada) in collaboration with Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria.

Pacific Baroque Festival 2026 celebrates its 22nd year from February 25 – March 1, 2026.
‘Spanish Connections,’ will include 5 events with programs intended to highlight the extraordinary music of baroque Spain.

Venue Accessibility

The 900 Johnson Street entrance is wheelchair accessible at street level. There’s a drop-off zone out front, elevator access inside, and several accessible washrooms, including a gender-neutral washroom.

For priority seating or other accommodations, contact us in advance.

For full details, visit vcm.bc.ca/plan-your-visit

Postsecondary Thursday Lunch Concert
2026-02-26 12:30 - 13:30 | Robin & Winifred Wood Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4, Canada
Entrance to this event is at the Victoria Conservatory of Music at 900 Johnson Street. Free admission.

About the Concert

Come join us as the Postsecondary students share their musical works-in-progress! And always expect the unexpected!

Ranging from Bach to Brubeck to Bluegrass to Beatles, as well as originals and beyond, these free concerts bring together fellow students and the public, to share in the joy of music.

Since September 1979, the Victoria Conservatory of Music has proudly represented Camosun College as its exclusive provider of music programming.

Venue Accessibility

The 900 Johnson Street entrance is wheelchair accessible at street level. There’s a drop-off zone out front, elevator access inside, and several accessible washrooms, including a gender-neutral washroom.

We honour Canoo and Access 2 Passes. For priority seating or other accommodations, contact us in advance.

For full details, visit vcm.bc.ca/plan-your-visit

Pacific Baroque Festival 2026 - Concert #3 - Fervour and Fantasy
2026-02-27 19:00 - 21:00 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
This concert is in Alix Goolden Performance Hall, entrance at 900 Johnson Street, Victoria

Purchasing Tickets
Single Tickets: $35 + tax & fees and $30 for Seniors/Students + tax & fees are available for purchase here.
Festival Passes: $105 + tax & fees and $90 for Seniors/Students + tax & fees are also available for purchase here.
School-age and post-secondary students: FREE entry at door with presentation of student ID or proof of enrolment

Concert #3: Fervour and Fantasy is included in the Festival Pass.

About the Concert
Rachel Allen – soprano
Marc Destrubé – violin
Kathryn Wiebe – violin
Natalie Mackie – viola da gamba
Lucas Harris – guitar and theorbo
Marco Vitale – harpsichord and organ

The Italian ‘Modern Style’ of music that would mark the future of western music was no stranger to Spain, not least because the Kingdom of Naples was part of the Hapsburg empire. This Italian fashion was also championed by the second wife of Philip V, Elizabeth Farnese, who was influential in attracting the Neapolitan Domenico Scarlatti to the royal court in Madrid. The Spanish composer José de Nebra likely greeted Scarlatti as he was harpsichord teacher to the Portuguese Barbara of Braganza, future queen to King Ferdinand VI. Both Ferdinand and Barbara had a profound passion for music, and their reign reflected a true musical paradise, dominated by musicians such as the celebrated singer Farinelli.

Soprano Rachel Allen has gone from singing in the Pacific Baroque Festival as a member of the Victoria Children’s Choir and studies at the Victoria Conservatory of Music to appearing in the concert halls of London and Europe and on the BBC. We are pleased to welcome her back to perform cantatas by the Spanish composer José de Nebra (a work unearthed a mere 25 years ago in the archives of the cathedral of Guatemala City) and the Neapolitan Domenico Scarlatti, best known for his 555 keyboard sonatas.

Learn more here: https://www.pacbaroque.com/fervourandfantasy

About the Pacific Baroque Festival
The Pacific Baroque Festival is an annual festival hosted by the Victoria Conservatory of Music (Victoria, BC, Canada) in collaboration with Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria.

Pacific Baroque Festival 2026 celebrates its 22nd year from February 25 – March 1, 2026.
‘Spanish Connections,’ will include 5 events with programs intended to highlight the extraordinary music of baroque Spain.

Venue Accessibility

The 900 Johnson Street entrance is wheelchair accessible at street level. There’s a drop-off zone out front, elevator access inside, and several accessible washrooms, including a gender-neutral washroom.

For priority seating or other accommodations, contact us in advance.

For full details, visit vcm.bc.ca/plan-your-visit

Pacific Baroque Festival 2026 - Concert #4 - A Night in Madrid with Luigi Boccherini
2026-02-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4
This concert is in Alix Goolden Performance Hall, entrance at 900 Johnson Street, Victoria

Purchasing Tickets
Single Tickets: $35 + tax & fees and $30 for Seniors/Students + tax & fees are available for purchase here.
Festival Passes: $105 + tax & fees and $90 for Seniors/Students + tax & fees are also available for purchase here.
School-age and post-secondary students: FREE entry at door with presentation of student ID or proof of enrolment

Concert #4: A Night in Madrid with Luigi Boccherini is included in the Festival Pass.

About the Concert
Kathryn Wiebe – violin
Joanna Hood — viola
Diederik van Dijk – cello
Natalie Mackie – cello
Lucas Harris – guitar
Marco Vitale – fortepiano

The Italian composer Luigi Boccherini was attached to the Court of the Spanish Infante, Luis Antonio (1727–85), brother of King Charles III of Spain (1759–88). For having married a common citizen, King Charles exiled the Infante from the Madrid Court to the Arenas de San Pedro palace in Ávila province. As a courtier of Luis Antonio, Boccherini joined the exile, and found himself with much time for composition, and there completed more than one hundred quintets for various instruments.

Of the ‘Musica notturna delle strade di Madrid’, Boccherini wrote: ”The piece is absolutely useless, even ridiculous, outside Spain, because the audience cannot hope to understand its significance, nor the performers to play it as it should be played.” We will do our best to prove Boccherini wrong! The music appears in the 2003 feature film ‘Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World’.

Learn more here: https://www.showpass.com/pacific-baroque-2026-concert-4/

About the Pacific Baroque Festival
The Pacific Baroque Festival is an annual festival hosted by the Victoria Conservatory of Music (Victoria, BC, Canada) in collaboration with Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria.

Pacific Baroque Festival 2026 celebrates its 22nd year from February 25 – March 1, 2026.
‘Spanish Connections,’ will include 5 events with programs intended to highlight the extraordinary music of baroque Spain.

Venue Accessibility

The 900 Johnson Street entrance is wheelchair accessible at street level. There’s a drop-off zone out front, elevator access inside, and several accessible washrooms, including a gender-neutral washroom.

For priority seating or other accommodations, contact us in advance.

For full details, visit vcm.bc.ca/plan-your-visit

Stars of Tomorrow: Classical Chamber Music Concert
2026-03-01 14:00 - 16:00 | Mayne Island Agricultural Hall, 430 Fernhill Rd, Mayne Island, BC, V0N 2J0, Canada
This event is on Mayne Island at the Mayne Island Agricultural Hall.

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Age 18 and under are free. If price is a barrier and you would like to attend, please contact mickistirling[at]gmail.com.

Tickets are available at the Farm Gate Store or Home Hardware, or online through the Mayne Island Little Theatre.

About the concert
An inspiring concert from our award-winning Young Artists Academy students performing dynamic chamber works by Dvořák, Milhaud, Kodály, Bonis, and Reger.

About the Young Artists Academy
Founded in 2006, the Young Artist Collegium Program, now the Gary Karr Young Artists Performance Academy, provides colleagues or peers for exceptional young musicians, supporting and challenging them to become the best they can be, in music and in life.

The Academy is an enriched program for talented young classical musicians – strings, winds, brass, and pianists – all brought together with outstanding teachers to create a lively, collaborative educational experience devoted to the pursuit of musical excellence.

It provides the environment to develop and thrive as soloists and as chamber musicians with all the necessary tools to think critically and work as a team.

Pacific Baroque Festival 2026 - Chemainus: Suave Melodies and Spanish Follies
2026-03-02 19:00 - 21:00 | St Michael & All Angels Church, 2852-28 Mill St, Chemainus, BC, Canada
This concert is in St Michael & All Angels Church. 2852-28 Mill St, Chemainus

Purchasing Tickets
Single Tickets: $25 + tax/fees (Seniors/Students); $30 + taxes/fees (Adults) are available for purchase here.

About the Concert
La Modestine:
Marc Destrubé – violin
Natalie Mackie – viola da gamba
Harris – guitar and theorbo

This intimate program for violin, viola da gamba and lute/guitar, will enlighten Festival attendees to the blossoming of Spanish baroque music after El Siglo de Oro (Spain’s “Golden Century”), which intriguingly blended the diverse cultures of the Hapsburg Empire which existed across Europe and the Americas, as well as drawing on Spain’s Moorish past.

Learn more here: https://www.showpass.com/pacific-baroque-2026-concert-5/

About the Pacific Baroque Festival
The Pacific Baroque Festival is an annual festival hosted by the Victoria Conservatory of Music (Victoria, BC, Canada) in collaboration with Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria.

Pacific Baroque Festival 2026 celebrates its 22nd year from February 25 – March 1, 2026.
‘Spanish Connections,’ will include 5 events with programs intended to highlight the extraordinary music of baroque Spain.

Postsecondary Info Night
2026-03-03 19:00 - 20:00 | Victoria Conservatory of Music, 900 Johnson St, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3N4, CA
The event is hosted both in-person and online on Tuesday, March 3 at 7:00pm.

In-person– Victoria Conservatory of Music, Green Room (located just to the left of our main reception desk at the Victoria Conservatory of Music at 900 Johnson Street).
Online via Microsoft Teams. Click here to join.

About Info Night
The Victoria Conservatory of Music Postsecondary Department hosts its annual Info Night for students and parents interested in learning more about Postsecondary Programs including:

Accredited by Camosun College. Since September 1979, the Victoria Conservatory of Music has proudly represented Camosun College as its Music Department.

Diploma in Music Performance – 2 years

Certificate in Music Technologies – 18 months (online)

Certificate in Music Creativity and Performance Foundations – 8 months

Accredited by the BC Private Institute Training Branch of the BC Ministry of Advanced Education

Certificate in Advanced Music Studies (AIMS) – 1 year, Full time or part time study in one of four pillars: Performance, Teaching, Recording & Production, and Business.

The Postsecondary Info Night includes an overview of programs from David Visentin (Associate Dean of Postsecondary Studies) and Megan Harton (Postsecondary Program Assistant), as well as a review of admission requirements, application procedures, and information on dual credit classes through the South Island Partnership (SIP).

Questions are welcome at any time in the presentation and registration is not required.

Can’t make it to Info Night?
Check out our website to learn more about our programs and why to choose the Victoria Conservatory of Music!

We’d love to hear from you!

We’re more than happy to connect with you one-on-one. Call 250-386-5311 or email David Visentin or Megan Harton at postsecondary@vcm.bc.ca to arrange a time.
