A pair of tireless teen musicians have been announced by High Beam Dreams as its featured entertainment for a fourth-annual Mother’s Day High Tea on May 10.
The catered tea at the Gibsons event venue will include a debut performance by the duo of Brielle Taylor and Josh Paolozza. Both Taylor and Paolozza are founding members of the progressive rock ensemble BELT. Paolozza (a drummer, fiddler and classical guitarist) is also a fixture with the North Shore Celtic Ensemble. Taylor is a powerful vocalist who recently headlined the Artesia Coffee House presented by the Sunshine Coast Arts Council; she will sing and perform dramatic works at next week’s Festival of the Performing Arts.
“This will be an afternoon of refinement and indulgence,” writes High Beam Dreams co-owner Vineet Miglani. “It will [be ] inspired by the grace of Jane Austen’s England and the charm of Bridgerton’s grand society gatherings. We feel our beautiful fragrance garden and intimate venue is now primed to pay homage to that era and celebrate its grandeur.”
The annual tea will also involve pastry chef Hillary Prince (previously of Brassica). Prince has English roots and is known for her deft hand in creating unique takes on classic desserts. She spent much of her career at Vancouver’s award-winning Gastown restaurant L’Abattoir, where she worked alongside renowned chef-owner Lee Cooper and built an enviable dessert program.
Meanwhile, efforts by entrepreneur gardener Stephanie Grindon of BioScapes Gardening have been underway to ready the blossom-bordered grounds.
Full details and ticket sales for the artful tea are available online at highbeamdreams.com.
Back to Bach
The Coast Recital Society has added a special concert to cap its 2024-2025 season.
Tom Allen, host of CBC Music’s program “About Time,” will come to the Raven’s Cry Theatre on April 27 with an impressive lineup of Canadian musicians for a special presentation of “JS Bach’s Long Walk in the Snow.” The combination of music and storytelling captures the life and times of one of the greatest composers of all time.
At 18 years of age, and in his first job as an organist, still barely beginning life as a composer but already a spectacular performer, the young Bach got into such trouble that the only thing he could do was to walk away. Allen’s “Long Walk in the Snow” recounts the trip itself: a 400-kilometre odyssey to a northern port city. Along the way he encountered street fights, big business, the father figure he didn’t know he needed, and (possibly) love.
Host Tom Allen will be joined by soprano Suzie Leblanc; Joe Phillips on bass, guitar, and voice; pianist James Parker; and Dave Harding on viola.
Remaining tickets ($45 for adults; $15 for students) can be purchased by emailing [email protected] or calling 604 885-0991.
