Local Arts

It takes a visiting musical ensemble from Australia to remind us how much we love our arts and culture on the Coast.

On April 11, 2008, Howard White, owner of Harbour Publishing, will receive the country's highest honour, the Order of Canada, from Governor General Michaelle Jean in an Ottawa ceremony.

Pianist Pavel Egorov, winner of the gold medal in the international Schumann competition, will perform on Sunday, Feb. 17, at 2 p.m. as part of the Pender Harbour Music Society Concert Series.

The Sunshine Coast Festival of the Performing Arts (SCFPA) is delighted to be celebrating its 35th anniversary - the longest running festival on the Coast.

On Feb. 16, 20 of B.C.'s young fiddlers will travel to Toronto to perform in Olifiddle, a benefit concert for a man who has touched many hearts and influenced many lives from B.C. and around the globe.

The Sunshine Coast Arts Council will host A White Evening, a salute to Harbour Publishing's Howard White, at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre in Sechelt on Saturday, Feb. 9, at 8 p.m.

A local band has a pair of gigs in Pender this weekend that should not be missed. Murphy's Lágh is composed of Roberts Creek's Sara Fitzpatrick on vocals and violin and Belfast-born Damian Brennan on vocals and guitar.

A new chapter has begun for the Pender Harbour Choir with Joy McLeod as the new choir director. McLeod moved to the Sunshine Coast over a year ago and is the founding director of Suncoast Singers.

Saturday night saw excitement at the launch of a new monthly coffeehouse hosted by The Wild Bistro in Gibsons.

Diversity is the keynote for Festival of Wind Music 2008. The Sunshine Coast Music Society's landmark festival features two concerts and three ensembles. A local concert band, a visiting brass band and chamber ensemble are booked.