Tis the season for festive family traditions, merry music, and the magic of winter.
Lila Music is bringing back their highly anticipated winter solstice concert for its eighth year with two separate enchanting events. There will be a 2 p.m. matinee as well as a 7 p.m. candlelight show in Mill Bay at the Sylvan United Church on Dec. 16, and for those further south, there will be a 7 p.m. concert at the Church of Truth in Victoria on Dec. 17.
“After a long break, we are thrilled to offer a very special musical experience, and hope families and friends in the community will be able to join us in celebrating the return of the light,” said organizer Cari Burdett. “To celebrate the returning light, musicians will collect holiday wishes from the audience and create a one-of-a-kind piece of music to honor this very special time of year. Every year we offer an array of songs connecting us to different winter solstice traditions in the world, and 2023 will not disappoint.”
This seasonal favourite, and multicultural celebration that caters to all ages and sells out each year, weaves acoustic music along with the blends of jazz, folk, and singing plus new arrangements for a joyful experience for all who attend. This year’s events will feature the talents of Cari Burdett (vocals), Anne Schaefer (voice, guitar and piano), Adrian Dolan of The Bills (piano, accordion, vocals, and guitar), Quin Etheridge-Pedden of Unfaithful Servants (violin and vocals), Scott White of The Bills (bass and vocals), Lila Community Choir, as well as the Collective and special guests.
Together these marvelous musicians will bring forward the spirit of cabaret, and the peace and warmth of the season as they combine music from around the world with a sprinkle of improvisation.
READ MORE: Burdett, Marreiros warm Winter Solstice
Tickets for this cherished solstice tradition in Mill Bay are $20 in advance or $25 at the door for their 2 p.m. matinee and $25 in advance or $30 at the door for their 7 p.m. concert. Tickets can be purchased online through EventBrite or in person at Ten Old Books in Duncan. For those interested in the 7 p.m. show in Victoria, tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door. Aside from bringing magic to the masses these enchanting evenings, Burdett shares that these events will also be fundraising for the new society called Arts Based Community Discovery (ABCD), which focuses on supporting relationships in the valley through the arts, and connection with nature. Audience members will have the opportunity to join in including a hand-clapping-sing-along of ‘This Little Light of Mine’.
“My hope is that the audience feels a warmth in their heart from listening to beautiful string arrangements, songs about joy as well as overcoming darkness, virtuosic guitar playing, winter bluegrass songs, a choir songs of upliftment and encouragement to move through our ‘storms of life’,” said Burdett. “We have chosen a wide arrangement of music that we hope will offer a musical landscape of this Winter Solstice time. We hope that the audience will have moments of inner reflection and stillness, as well as joy and jubilation, especially with participation in the sing-alongs. Families and children are most welcome to attend, and we are grateful for the warm community support from Valley Voice Magazine, True Grain Bakery, Duncan Garage Cafe and the Cowichan Citizen.”
