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Cowichan artists invite you to take Musical Journeys

Sunday, March 27 at 2 p.m. in Duncan United Church
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Musicians Margaret St Cyr, Ted Rhodes and Yvonne Gillespie will take audiences on a Musical Journeys Sunday, March 27 2022. (Photo courtesy of Ted Rhodes)

By Ted Rhodes

In the past two years, musicians have been largely deprived of opportunities to perform for their audiences.

This does not mean they haven’t been hard at work in their private studios and living rooms practising their art. Three local musicians Margaret St Cyr (French horn), Ted Rhodes (tenor) and Yvonne Gillespie (piano and composer/arranger), who each love to travel, have had their wings clipped by COVID. However, over the period, among their other activities, to assuage their travel longings they have prepared an eclectic concert titled Musical Journeys. The concert will come to life and fly on Sunday, March 27 at 2 p.m. in Duncan United Church, 246 Ingram St. Admission will be by donation and, after costs, proceeds will be donated to the church’s Homeless Prevention Fund.

All three musicians have performed across Canada: St Cyr with the Calgary and Victoria Symphonies and many other international organizations, Gillespie composing and playing across Canada and recently leading the KeyWinds Quintet and Trio, and Rhodes singing with the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony, the Calgary Opera, Dalhousie Opera Workshop and Chorale. All three performers, in one way or another, are now part of the Cowichan Consort orchestra and choir organization.

Musical Journeys comprises five such ventures. The first two journeys seemingly float along in Europe to the music of Franz Schubert. The third journey is with a vagabond singing the music of Vaughan Williams as he hikes along lanes in the English countryside. Next, with Hector Berlioz, we dream of pleasant hillsides of France, and finally, we tread in the footsteps of Scotland’s National Poet, Robbie Burns.

Shakespeare said that the music of Orpheus could “bend nature and create a lasting spring”. With his singing he could “allay the billows of the sea, and put to rest the troubles of his listeners and even kill some strife altogether”. In our current dark days, for their audience, St Cyr, Gillespie and Rhodes will begin and end their journeys with Shakespeare’s thoughts, and would dearly love to do for you just as thought the Bard! Please come!

All public health restrictions to be observed.