A big thanks to the West Coast Symphony (WCS) for generously offering to come to Bowen Island on Sunday December 14 to perform in the BICS gym at 2 p.m. on stage. The Winter Concert will be a lively concert with the theme of Waltzes and Dances, as well as presenting Daniel Kantor`s Night of Silence, featuring Benedict & Connor Ramsbottom and Leroy Anderson`s Sleigh Ride.
The West Coast Symphony concerts for the community series is a unique opportunity to directly experience affordable classical music with a full symphony of over sixty musicians who all donate their performance time, as well as paying for their own ferry fare, insurance, etc. The tradition of affordable by-donation, open-to-all-ages concerts for the community is made possible by a network of support with BICS, as the island’s hub, bringing all the elements together. The Community School Association (CSA,) sponsors this bi-annual event, and helps to run a small concession.
The WCS concerts are one of the few musical opportunities for parents with young children to hear classical music in an open-door venue that allows for quick exits if needed, or a quick break on the playground outside before returning to the show. Despite the ability to pop out during the middle of the show, most people of all ages stay in their seats and the symphony are consistently impressed by the level of respectful concert-etiquette by even the youngest audience members.
The West Coast Symphony musicians get much joy from seeing three to four generations in the audience, all sitting together, and are delighted by how many students and youth attend the concerts with their parents, grand parents and sometimes their great-grandparents, and we are looking forward to another wonderful event. Admission is at the door by donation.
