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A&E column: Concerto winners play; RainFest; quilts on display and more in Cowichan

The latest in arts and entertainment in Cowichan

The Cowichan Consort Orchestra has some winners on tap for their next concert on Saturday, March 11.

It’s the Annual Concerto Winner Concert, featuring three young performers.

Senior winner is Kay Kuang, 20, a third year music student at University of Victoria. She will perform the entire Piano Concerto No. 5 ‘The Emperor’, by Beethoven.

Intermediate winner Camilo Aybar who is a 17-year-old clarinetist will play the first and second movements of Crusell’s ‘Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in F minor’.

The Junior winner is 11-year-old Felicia Jingru Ma, and she will perform the second and third movements of Mozart’s ‘A major Piano Concerto No. 23’.

Nathan Jacklin will conduct. Also on the programme is Charbrier’s ‘Espana’, which will be performed by the entire orchestra.

The winners will each receive a bursary from competition chairperson Alice Sinclair from the Consort board to help further their musical education.

The competition is in its 27th year, and is back after a two year break due to COVID-19. Auditions were held in October, 2022.

“The Consort is very happy to once again be able to give a chance for young musicians to perform with a live orchestra,” said a press release for the event.

The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Christian Reformed Church in Duncan. Tickets are $20 each and you can get them at Volume One Bookstore on Kenneth Street in Duncan or at the door.

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RainFest continues this week in Duncan.

Designed to help folks get through this typically dreary time of year, RainFest features some great local musical entertainment.

On Tuesday, Feb. 21 there’s an open mic night at the Duncan Showroom starting at 7:30 p.m. Then on Wednesday, Feb. 22 Kristine Helene and Thomas Kinzel will be at the Old Firehouse Wine and Cocktail Bar starting at 7 p.m.

On Thursday, Feb. 23 Dakota and Dave take the stage at 7 p.m. at the Craig Street Brew Pub. The Pub continues as host with live music at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24. The Duncan Showroom stage will also be in use at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night with Calico.

On Saturday, Feb. 25 things move outdoors to City Square with Malakai at 6 p.m. and Naomi Middlemiss at 6:45 p.m., along with The Islanders Hot Club at 7:30 p.m.

Then on Sunday, Feb. 26, performances move to the Duncan Showroom again with the Mitchell Sisters taking the stage at 3 p.m. and the festival wrapping up with Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley at 7:30 p.m.

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Who doesn’t love quilts?

For the next two months the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre gallery outside of the theatre will behosting an art show from the Cowichan Valley Heritage Quilters.

Types of quilts will run the gamut from traditional to modern handiwork.

The show runs from March 2 until April 30. The gallery opens one hour prior to CPAC shows, and private bookings can be arranged by calling Laura Stephenson at 250-746-3428.

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From Feb. 24 to March 31 Imagine That! gallery in downtown Dunca is hosting a special group of artisans in their window displays, the cooperative advised in an email to the Citizen this week.

“As members of the Imagine That! co-operative, these individuals invest extra time and skills to our operations, helping to make us a success,” Imagine That!’s Katie Daniel said.

Featured will be Lynn Bisset, Katie Daniel, Sandra Greenaway, Sandra Holmes, Joyce Leroux, Patti McNeice, Lana McQueen, Robin Millan, Carolyn Morris, Margot Page, Antho Santarossa, and Veronica Scott, in a display titled Flora and Fauna: Member Showcase.

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The River Side Inn at Lake Cowichan has made a name for itself as the place in the Valley for a night of comedy, and they’re continuing the tradition with a new show on Friday, March 3.

Big Beast Stand-up Comedy is back, this time with Rob Ross from Toronto “with lightening quick wit and his dark and hilariously crafted jokes.”

“Rob Ross is a journeyman comic with his toes in all pools comedy. From show running, writing, acting Rob’s credits read longer than the ingredients on my Pizza Rolls. But when he really shines is with a stand-up microphone in his hand,” promised a press release for the event.

The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $26.74. Get them at Eventbrite.com



Andrea Rondeau

About the Author: Andrea Rondeau

I returned to B.C. and found myself at the Cowichan Valley Citizen.
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