Media Advisory — For Immediate Release VCM’s Alix Goolden Performance Hall Wins Award for Top Live Music Venue
Vancouver Island Votes Put AGPH in 1st Place in the 12th Annual M AwardsVictoria, BC, June 24, 2014— Victoria Conservatory of Music (VCM), one of the largest and most respected community music schools in North America is proud to announce its venue, Alix Goolden Performance Hall (AGPH) wins 1st place award for Top Live Music Venue.
“It’s a real privilege to be honoured by Islander’s in this way,” said Jane Butler McGregor,
CEO, Victoria Conservatory of Music. We’re thrilled to be a part of Monday Magazine’s 12th Annual M Awards. It’s especially nice to know our performance hall is appreciated by so many; it certainly has a long and distinguished history in Victoria. To receive this now is an extra special 50th anniversary gift for the VCM.
The Alix Goolden Performance Hall, built in 1890 is a Victoria Heritage building, formerly a church sanctuary and a gem of a venue in downtown Victoria. It’s an elegant 800-seat venue featuring fine acoustics, a vaulted ceiling, filigree iron railings, carved wooden pews, and intricate stained glass windows. “This is a real testament to our venues and bookings team,” said Martin Borg, Director, VCM Facilities and Building Operations. “Making sure concert attendees and event goers have a positive and memorable experience is our top priority. We pride ourselves in making AGPH a beautiful place to attend, it needs a lot of upkeep so knowing it’s appreciated by the community is icing on the cake,” added Borg.
Monday Magazine editor, Kyle Slavin said, “Our judging panel had no hesitation in nominating Alix Goolden Hall as one of the best venues in Victoria. Aesthetically and acoustically, it’s such a unique performance space and it’s always a treat to see a show there. Clearly Monday readers agreed, because they overwhelmingly voted it as the Top Live Music Venue in the city for 2014.
Named in honour of one of the VCM’s original founders, the Alix Goolden Performance Hall plays host to many acclaimed international performers, while also serving the needs of VCM students, faculty and the local community. The hall is the perfect venue for live concerts, theatre, speaking engagements, weddings, book signings and a host of other special events.
…/2The M Awards Judging Panel who chooses the nominees for each category, is made up of 
experts and people well-entrenched in Victoria’s arts community. People from all over Vancouver Island vote for their favourite in many arts categories. Of all the votes cast in the category of Top Live Music Venue, the Alix Goolden Performance Hall received 48 percent of the votes. “That speaks volumes to the experience people receive here,” said Bernie Keppler, Manager, VCM Bookings and Events.
AGPH has hosted internationally known speakers such as Margaret Atwood, Dr. Jane Goodall, and David Suzuki. It has seen performances by classical performers Jean Stilwell, Moshe Hammer and Anton Kuerti. AGPH served as the venue for contemporary artists EmmyLou Harris, Ani DiFranco, Sharon Jones, Dr. John and a variety of artists from the Rifflandia Festival. Noted VCM alumni such as Barbara Livingston, Walter Prossnitz, Richard Margison, Benjamin Butterfield, and Evelyn de la Haye have also performed in the Hall. Concert goers can expect a truly exciting line-up of concerts during our 50th anniversary year.
For detailed information about renting VCM’s Alix Goolden Performance Hall please visit us online at: http://vcm.bc.ca/venues/alix-goolden-hall/ or phone 250-386-5311, ext 3182. https://www.facebook.com/AlixGooldenPerformanceHall For upcoming concerts and events appearing in AGPH please visit: http://vcm.bc.ca/events/The VCM is also home to another highly sought after venue on a more intimate scale, The Wood Recital Hall, named after Robin and Winifred Wood in downtown Victoria, BC. It’s a smaller 100-seat hall, is perfect for ‘unplugged’ performances and other small-scale music performances, solo recitals, lectures, and rehearsals. More information can be found at: http://vcm.bc.ca/venues/wood-hall/
About the Victoria Conservatory of Music: The Victoria Conservatory of Music is one of the largest and most respected community music schools in Canada. The schools upcoming 50th Anniversary Season will celebrate its accomplishments with the community, its alumni, faculty and students in a spectacular year of performances, activities and events. The VCM offers intensive programs, workshops, and classes in a variety of areas including voice, piano, strings, woodwinds, theory and children’s music in a wide-variety of music genres. Its mission is to enrich lives through music in a thriving community accessible to all. The VCM is a non-profit organization located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Media Contact: Blaine Jeffery | Manager of Marketing & Social Media T: 250.386.5311 | E:[email protected]
