– by Marie Zirk –
It’s been an incredible 50th year. The Victoria Conservatory of Music began its anniversary celebrations with a phenomenal alumni concert and is now about to mark the end of the first half-century and beginning of the next with JUBILATION, the final concert of the 50th Anniversary season on Saturday, May 30.
Like the Conservatory, the concert will be exciting and diverse. It will begin with the world premiere of the VCM commissioned piano quintet by Stephen Brown, Composer in Residence. Daniel Lapp, Artistic Director of the new School of Contemporary Music will then take over the stage with surprise guest musicians, faculty and his students reflecting the diversity of the VCM’s new contemporary offerings.
The VCM also serves a diverse population. Established in 1964 with eight students, it has grown to be one of the largest and most respected music schools in North America attracting over 2,800 students from all around the world and serving this community in many additional ways.
Children who learn music early in their lives display superior cognitive performance, and music facilitates their learning and discipline while increasing self-esteem. To offer this benefit to more of the community, the VCM established a Children’s Education and Outreach that now serves over 1,100 children in 42 different locations, including marginalized schools.
Home to the most respected and renowned Music Therapy Program in North America, the VCM also serves over 1,800 infants, children, youth and seniors, on a weekly basis, both in the school and the community. It is overwhelming to see the power of music make such an immense difference in so many lives.
While the JUBILATION concert marks the end of the 50th anniversary, it does not mark the end of the 50th anniversary fundraising campaign, which was launched to help bring more music to more people in more communities. Please come out and join the celebrations and consider supporting the VCM and all the vitality it brings to our city.
Tickets to the JUBILATION Concert are on sale now. Tickets for the Champagne Reception and concert are $85. Concert tickets are only $35 and include a pre-show glass of wine. Available now at vcm.bc.ca/events/finale or call 250.385.5311.
