Kwalikum Secondary School jazz program students will once again prove why they continue to win awards when they perform at their annual benefit concert for the program on Friday, March 2 at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre.
Talented students from the KSS Junior and Senior Bands as well as the vocal jazz group will provide the entertainment for the first part of the evening. Multi Juno award winner Phil Dwyer will also be performing with a few of his friends. During the musical night a three-course gourmet meal with a Spanish-Moroccan theme created by chef and musician Trevor Hooper will be served.
The concert, Jazz Extravaganza 5: Classic Canadian Hits with a Jazz Twist will feature both the students as well as music professionals, led by Dwyer.
The event is presented by the KSS Fine Arts Society, with proceeds benefiting all students of the KSS Music Program. This year’s show is sure to sell fast with Dwyer and his sextet, hand-picked from the west coast jazz scene, playing music from Dwyer’s CBC Radio 2 commissioned Canadian Songbook Project.
Asked to re-imagine his favourite Canadian songs, Dwyer turned to the music of Joni Mitchell, The Guess Who and Ian Tyson among others to create an innovative new suite of compositions that have been popular on CBC Radio 2 / Video on Demand as well as with audiences across Canada since being performed at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival in 2011.
“March second will be the first live performance of this work on Vancouver Island. We’re incredibly fortunate that Phil has put this show together for our own high school fundraiser,” said Andy Telfer, event organizer and parent, adding, “This is undoubtedly the biggest local jazz event of the year.”
Dwyer has been involved with the KSS fundraiser since its inception and the acclaimed musician who calls Qualicum Beach home admitted the KSS music program is near and dear to his heart.
“My wife and I have been involved in this event since it started. It like to support it. It is always good to get involved with young people playing music,” he said.
He said not only will the music be great, but the food will be incredible as well.
“Trevor Hooper is a top of the line chef. His food is amazing.”
Hooper, who operates the Raven Stone Sheep Farm near the Dashwood fire station, said his children have gone through the KSS music program and he is happy to support it as well.
The meal he is preparing for the evening will include a tapas plate with chorizo sausage which is handmade on the farm as well as a Spanish tortilla. The main course is a tajine of beef or chicken with winter squash couscous and for dessert there is Moroccan rice pudding.
The evening starts at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6 and the concert at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 for the performance and $50 will include dinner. You can purchase tickets at What’s Cooking, Smithford’s and the Mulberry Bush Bookstore in Qualicum Beach.