A Cappella Strait and Choralations Children’s Choir will present A Choral Mosaic at their concerts this weekend.

Among their selections, A Cappella Strait will be singing pieces by Eric Whitacre, Stephen Chatman, Zoltan Kodaly, a Manhattan Transfer arrangement of A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, and two songs by Finnish composer Mia Makaroff. Choralations, singers from grades 4 through 12, will present an assortment ranging from spirituals to pop songs.

Even though there are only 14 of them, they sing in multiple parts and in various languages. Janice Brunson conducts both choirs, and Tom Kellough will accompany. The concerts are tonight (Friday) at 8 p.m. at the Seaside Centre in Sechelt, and Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Eric Cardinall Hall (Shirley Macey Park), 930 Chamberlin Rd. in Gibsons. Tickets are $12 adults, $10 seniors and students, children under 12 free, and are available at Gaia’s Fair Trade in Gibsons and the Sechelt Visitors Centre.

Jazz fest and more

The 17th annual Gibsons Landing Jazz Festival is this weekend in many venues with Martini Madness at Kinsmen’s Hall tonight at 8 p.m.

The main event is Saturday in Dougall Park with a host of talented musicians, plus a dance at Roberts Creek Hall with Shuffle Demons, sure to get you moving. Outdoor concerts are Sunday in Winegarden Park, and there’s dinner music and a jazz brunch in various restaurants. See www.coastjazz.com for the full schedule.

And Skeleton Woman, an original dance piece, is at the Heritage Playhouse Friday and Saturday. Don’t even think about staying at home.

Art & Solo

Musician Lowry Olafson and artist Shannon Woode, husband and wife, are doing their first show together — her paintings and his music. Art & Solo, An Evening of Art and Music is on Saturday at the Arts Building in Gibsons. Art show from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and concert at 8. For reservations, call 604-886-5844.

Coast show

At the Home and Cottage Show on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Gibsons and Area Recreation Centre, look for more of an arts presence this year. The Gibsons Public Art Gallery will have a display table on the concourse level with information about GPAG, its exhibitions since 2003 and their exciting plans for the coming year.

Jazz Vespers

Steve Giltrow and Boyd Norman join Rev. Jason Pollick for a unique Jazz Vespers service at St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church (Gibsons Way and North Road) on Sunday, June 10, at 4 p.m.

The contemplative service offers an exploration of the facets of love in words and especially music. Jazz Vespers were first offered in New York City, enabling musicians who had played Saturday night gigs to participate in services. Now globally popular, jazz services draw many of all denominations to spend a thoughtful hour. There is no charge for admission and all are welcome. Donations to cover an honorarium for the musicians would be appreciated.

Piano news

The Pender Harbour Choir has been awarded a Sunshine Coast Community Foundation grant for a 40th anniversary legacy portable piano to expand their community outreach in venues without suitable pianos. The award ceremony is at the Seaside Centre, at 7 p.m. on June 11.

Book launch

Margaret West will be holding a book launch for her new title, Sisters of the Golden Mountain: A Shamanic Initiation into Fire, on Wednesday, June 13, at the Roberts Creek Library from 7 to 9 p.m. This book is about Russia, the author’s connection and her last trip to facilitate at a family camp in Perm, Russia in 2010. For details, see www.margaret-
west-connection.com.

Awards

The Leo Awards, the Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Foundation of B.C. awards to celebrate and promote achievements in B.C. film and TV, have just given two honours to the documentary Forty Days at Base Camp by Coast film-maker Dianne Whelan. It won best cinematography by Andrew Coppin and best sound editing by Dennis Burke and Raphael Choi. Also in the 2012 Leo Awards, home town film-maker Velcrow Ripper has won best overall sound in a documentary program for his film Bone Wind Fire. Both artists, Whelan and Ripper, learned their art on the Sunshine Coast.

Roche tune-up

Author and amuser David Roche is doing a staged reading of Catholic Erotica (Be Proud of Your Shame!) on Thursday, June 14 at 8 p.m. at the Gumboot Restaurant. Admission is by donation. Call 604-885-4218 to reserve for dinner.

Roche tunes up the show for summer performances in London, Liverpool and Belfast. It’s funny and poignant. Feedback will be greedily accepted during talkback. Jenica and Johanna Renee open with short funny sets.

New Moon film

On Thursday, June 14, New Moon Festival Society’s Cinema & Chai series presents Defining Diversity, Celebrating Community, a film and discussion at Gibsons Public Art Gallery in Gibsons at 7:30 p.m. Admission is by donation.

Nostalgia night

Jim Taylor, George Grafton and Nostalgia bring another night of rock and romance to Gibsons with music from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s presented by Zocalo and the Suncoast Harmony Entertainment Society. The nostalgic evening is on Friday, June 15, at 7 p.m. at The Club in Lower Gibsons. Reserve your $20 tickets by calling 604-886-8001.

Tuesday deadline

I’m away for a week, so for the June 15 edition, send your notice of arts events to editor Ian Jacques at
editor@coastreporter.net by 5 p.m. on Tuesday for Friday’s newspaper. Art Beat covers events one day to one week ahead only.