The 2022 season is now over, check back in early 2023 to see what we will have to offer.
Lori Mazey teaches Theatre Arts and Dance at G.P. Vanier Secondary School in Courtenay, BC. She has her degree in Theatre, her Masters in Educational Leadership, and is an Associate of Trinity College in London for Speech Arts.
Saxophonist Ryan Oliver steeped his concept and artistry in the creative fires of Amsterdam, honed his craft in Toronto and realized his dream of joining thousands of saxophonists at crowded jam sessions for several years in the jazz metropolis of New York City before returning to British Columbia and the natural beauty of Vancouver Island.
Carol Anne Parkinson is a joyful singer, voice teacher and conductor. She earned her Bachelor of Music from UBC in 1995 and continued to study with master teacher Arlene McIntyre from 2000-2005. As a chorister, she has cherished memories of singing with the Cap Singers at Kathaumixw, with UBC Choral Union under the direction of Diane Loomer, earning first place in the Markdoberdorf choral festival in Germany with the University Singers, recording two CD’s with the Vancouver Cantata Singers, and more recently, singing with Island Voices.
The Cookers Quintet is an exciting, straight-ahead collective of some of Canada's finest jazz musicians. The group's debut recording, "The Cookers, Volume 1" was warmly received by Canada's jazz community, and was played extensively on CBC, JazzFM, CJRT and college stations across the country. The Cookers Quintet is an exciting, straight-ahead collective of some of Canada's finest jazz musicians. The group's debut recording, "The Cookers, Volume 1" was warmly received by Canada's jazz community, and was played extensively on CBC, JazzFM, CJRT and college stations across the country.
Formerly “Cascadia Quartet”, formed in 2015, Award-winning Cascadia Strings is an initiative to bring diverse chamber music repertoire to audiences, fusing together iconic original works with well-crafted arrangements of popular music of the last century, all in the vision to bring live, meaningful musical experiences to new venues and music-lovers in Victoria and beyond.
Campbell River native, Tyson Doknjas, is an active freelance violinist and private teacher in Victoria. He is a member of the Victoria Symphony and performs with various groups on Vancouver Island, including Pacific Opera Victoria, Victoria Baroque, Pacific Baroque Festival, and Aventa Ensemble.
An accomplished dancer, singer and actor, Lindsay has performed and taught throughout Canada. As an adjudicator he has worked with the N.I.Festival of Performing Arts, Pacific West Festival, Danceworks Victoria, Chilliwack and Kamloops Festival of Performing Arts. Teaching credits include Harbour Dance Centre, Van Tap Dance Society, Capilano College and several other West Coast studios.
After completing a Bachelor of Music degree in piano at the University of Alberta, Carrie fell in love with singing and all things vocal. Since then she has trained in the teaching of many vocal styles, most recently completing Jeannie LoVetri’s Somatic Voicework(TM) certification in teaching Contemporary Commercial music.
A thirty-plus year veteran of the Toronto jazz scene, the sound of Tim Hamel’s trumpet has graced stages across North America and beyond. He has performed at most of the major jazz clubs and festivals in Canada.
Bassist Alex Coleman spent 2 decades in Toronto before moving back to Nanaimo where he maintains a busy schedule as one of the Island’s most dynamic bass players. Alex holds a degree from the University of Toronto and has performed across Canada with artists including P.J. Perry, Terry Clarke, Barry Elmes, Gary Williamson and his uncle and mentor, Pat Coleman.
Vancouver-based, Juno award winning drummer Joe Poole earned his degree in Jazz Performance under the guidance of Oscar Peterson, gaining Jazz Report Magazine’s Best Post-Secondary Jazz Musician award along the way. He has performed in over 25 different countries, from Aruba to Spain, Denmark to St. Martin, and of course, numerous cities throughout North America.
Originally from Windsor, Ontario, Kathryn is an active & versatile freelance violinist and educator on Vancouver Island. Her passionate and intuitive musicianship has brought her the opportunity to perform with distinguished ensembles around Canada and the USA.
Violist Jessica Pickersgill’s passion of music started at a young age and has since blossomed into a genuine wish to allow others to fall in love with music though her performance. As a result she has played for audiences at home in Canada and around the world including Italy, Russia and America.
Originally from Burns Lake, BC, Erin is a freelance cellist, session musician and cello teacher, now settled in beautiful Victoria, BC. As a young artist, she performed her solo set at the “Listen Up” Festival in Vancouver and was selected to record her compositions at CBC Radio 2.
Derek Stanyer grew up in Langley, BC. He received his Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria in 2010, and his Masters of Music from the University of Ottawa in 2012 on full scholarship. He has won numerous awards and prizes, including finalist in the national Knigge Piano Competition
