A world of music in a peaceful park

By Anne Draper

The summer concerts in Beacon Hill Park have been an amazing showcase of local musical talent sponsored by the City of Victoria along with the Vancouver Island Musicians' Union local 247. The concerts can be enjoyed until Friday, September 13^th.

To catch some of the concerts simply arrive at the Cameron Bandshell on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holiday Monday at 1:30 pm where bench seating is provided. You will experience a picture perfect setting and great sounding live music from around the world, with the expertise of sound technician Murray Boyce and his assistants.

The Naden Band opened the 2013 Summer Season with a variety of renditions, including a Cuban sole, Big Band Swing, Battle of the Atlantic, Bluebird of Happiness, and music from Skyfall, to name a few. The popular Navy band will give a closing performance on Friday September 13, rain or shine.

A total of 45 concerts were on this summer's schedule with a variety of bands and singers performing Blues, Classical, Folk, Jazz, Swing, Variety and Multicultural music together with children events at 11 am on Wednesdays.

A sunny Saturday in June found Louise Rose creating a fun Canadian music scene with piano, drums and horn accompaniment that included songs and tunes from each province for the audience to enjoy. An appreciative audience of elderly and younger senior who love to clap, tap their toes and sing or hum along with the performers. And children and toddlers in wide-eyed wonder join in the fun with happy parents busy snapping every move is a common sight at the musical events. A special "Children's Event" with Ivonne Hernandez on fiddle plus her mother and son on piano and bass had dozens of children dancing and laughing for an entire hour one sunny Wednesday morning in July.

Joey Smith's "talking fingers" on bass performed smooth jazz on a sunny Saturday afternoon accompanied by Edie and John. The Victoria Brass Band had the elderly audience toe tapping and moving to the march music with smiles reflecting memories and feeling young again while enjoying tunes by John Phillip Sousa. Jukebox Oldies that include music from the 40's and the 50's find some couples dancing on the lawn many a sunny afternoon.

Tourists passing through Beacon Hill Park often stop in surprise to enjoy the live music and peaceful atmosphere. Dixieland Express with their polished swing style of "oldies" performed to a "full house" of music lovers and reminded the writer of their thirty some years of long-standing enjoyment and energy that musicians bring to our world.  As Larry a loyal fan of summer concerts explains "The Stage in the Park is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, the beauty of nature and some of the best of Victoria's musical and entertainment talent - and it's all free!"