A fundraising spring jazz concert is set for Saturday, June 11 in Ladner.
All Saints Anglican Parish is the venue for Spring has Sprung, a 7:30 p.m. concert in support of the Delta Community Music School (DCMS) and the South Delta Jazz Festival and Workshop this August.
The six-piece jazz ensemble for the concert will feature professional musicians from the DCMS instructional roster including: music director Stephen Robb (keys and reeds), South Delta Jazz Festival Faculty Laura Harrison (voice), Brad Muirhead (trombone), Ron Samworth (guitar), Brent Gubbels (bass) and Stan Taylor (drums).
Tickets are available at: www.southdeltajazzfestival.com or call 604-946-1280. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
The fundraiser is being held to help keep the tuition fees for the Jazz Festival affordable for local families, and to help fund the musical events associated with the festival.
The COVID pandemic has severely impacted the high school band programs in South Delta, making it even more important for DCMS to provide musical education and entertainment in the Ladner and Tsawwassen communities.
DCMS is dedicated to helping young people develop and grow musically, socially and intellectually, and to building community pride and spirit, through public concerts.
On April 7, students from the vocal program at DCMS, under the tutelage of Tracy Neff, staged a successful Open Mic performance at the Red Barn in Southlands.
More student performances are being planned for 2022 as COVID restrictions ease.
Last summer, DCMS was able to stage the South Delta Jazz Festival and Workshop in accordance with COVID regulations, by creating a combination program of in-person and online classes and performances.
In 2021, the Century Group came onboard as a sponsor of the festival, providing the Red Barn as a venue for the workshops, recording sessions and a well-attended, outdoor concert.
This year, Century Group is once again a sponsor and a free public outdoor evening concert, featuring professional musicians, is being planned for Aug. 13 at Southlands.
More information on any of these events including registration for the festival workshops is available on the DCMS website at: https://dcms.ca/.
