Gather with loved ones and celebrate the warmth of community!
The Lila Music Centre invites you to their 9th annual Winter Solstice Concert, happening on Sunday, December 22nd at James Bay United Church.
This cherished family-friendly event celebrates the return of the light with an inspiring blend of vocal and acoustic music.
From jazz to folk, the concert showcases original and classic compositions created especially for this occasion, and this year, with Celtic music traditions taking center stage.
Attendees have described the performance as food for the soul, and as a moving, celebratory night that all will feel blessed to have witnessed.
“I never miss Cari’s Annual Solstice Concert,” one reviewer said.
“She brings together fabulous musicians evoking light with songs of luminescent joy blended with gorgeous harmonies and precise instrumentation on the darkest day of the year, a chance to Celebrate [sic] the interplay of dark and light.”
The ensemble includes a talented group of local musicians, such as Anne Schaefer, Quin Etheridge-Pedden from the Unfaithful Servants, Adrian Dolan from The Bills, Scott White from The Bills, Kim June Johnson, and Cari Burdett.
This year, they’re joined by the youth voices of Opal and Cassia Hollett, making it a truly special performance.
Expect to hear a mix of timeless Christmas classics and lively tunes, including a cappella renditions of “Lo How a Rose,” “Carol of the Bells,” and “Gloria in Excelsis,” along with upbeat favorites like “Soul Cake” and joyful fiddle tunes.
The concert will also feature beloved pieces such as “Calling All Angels” and “The Lost Word Blessings.”
One unique aspect of this concert is the musicians’ tradition of collecting holiday wishes from the audience and turning them into one-of-a-kind musical pieces, adding a personal touch to this already meaningful celebration.
“Every year we offer an array of songs connecting us to the Winter Season and Solstice, and 2024 will not disappoint,” Burdett said.
The concert will also feature original compositions by Schaefer and Johnson!
As described, Schaefer’s piece, “Constellation,” celebrates the beauty of individuality and how the sum of our collective parts can create something spectacular, much like the constellations in the night sky.
Johnson’s “I Wish I Had Woken With the Dawn” is a reflective praise song for the light, encouraging presence over the distractions of daily life, making it a fitting tribute to the solstice’s reminder of light’s return.
This year’s Winter Solstice Concert will comprise of three shows: a matinee and evening performance in Duncan on December 21st, and a matinee show in Victoria on December 22nd.
Tickets for these performances are available here—priced at $20 for early bird tickets, $30 for general admission and $35 at the door.
In addition to offering an unforgettable musical experience, the event will also be fundraising for a new society called Arts-Based Community Discovery and Events (ABCDE), which aims to foster connection through arts, nature, and cultural diversity in the Quw’utsun’ Valley.
Don’t miss this heartwarming celebration of music, community, and the return of the light!
Winter Solstice Concert
- Where: James Bay United, 511 Michigan Street
- When: Sunday, December 22nd at 2:30 p.m.
