Victoria BC Fringe Festival Offers 400 Performances August 21-31

Robert Hutchinson — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:55:09 +0000

The 22nd Annual Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival will run August 21- 31, 2008. The Fringe is an unjuried, uncensored, international festival of live comedy, drama, dance, spoken word, and more.

Companies are selected by lottery in November. Anyone with a show can apply. In 2007, 16,000 people came to the Victoria Fringe and hundreds volunteered to help make it happen.The Victoria Fringe Festival is one of 23 fringes in Canada and operates under the Canadian Association of Fringe Festival‘s 4 principles: unjuried, festival participation is on a first come, first served basis; no censorship; 100% of the box office is returned to the artists; and, accessibility to all artists.

You may see anything at fringe; dramas, comedy, dance, stand up….even some things that may
make you say, “What the fringe was that?”

The Fringe Festival serves as a playground for artists, with some works getting picked up for
professional runs. The Drowsy Chaperone, Urtinetown, MacHomer and One Man Star Wars
Trilogy (by local playwright, Charles Ross) all started at the fringe and later hit the big time!
Come join 20,000 of your closest friends and 250 volunteers to celebrate this cultural explosion
in downtown Victoria. This year the Victoria Fringe runs from August 21 ? 31 with 11 venues,
50 international companies and more than 400 performances.

Victoria BC Jazz Fest 2008 Kicks Off June 25th at Victoria Conservatory of Music

Robert Hutchinson — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 13:06:31 +0000

Dubbed “the Paganini of the double bass,” Paris-born Renaud Garcia-Fons combines a unique mastery of his instrument with an eclectic musical perspective that spans classical and several world-music traditions. After studying acoustic bass at the Paris Conservatory of Music, Garcia-Fons began a long immersion in the worlds of jazz and traditional music. Eventually he added a fifth string to his bass, thus empowering him to become a full partner in any group improvisation. Already a virtuoso, Garcia-Fons achieved even higher levels of musical expressiveness and creativity as his collaborations with maestros from Greece, Tunisia, Turkey and Vietnam exposed him to the tonalities and techniques of diverse musical cultures. Now, this master musician can shift seamlessly from classic bass tones to perfect mimicry of the oud, cello or Arabic violin.

Current Band Lineup: Renaud Garcia-Fons, acoustic bass; Antonio “Kiko” Ruiz, guitar; Pascal Rollando, percussion.

Misha Piatigorsky Trio

Moscow-born, but currently based in NYC, pianist/composer Misha Piatigorsky immigrated to the United States in 1981. Trained in music since an early age in Russia, he has continued his studies in jazz, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in music under pianist Kenny Barron. Perhaps best known as the pianist for vocalist Mark Murphy, Piatigorsky frequently plays at Manhattan’s best jazz clubs. His work as a composer was recognized in 2004 when he won the BMI Thelonious Monk Composers Competition. An innovative musician and charismatic performer, Piatigorsky combines compelling melodies with a driving sense of rhythm that gives his music an electrifying edge in concert. A faculty member of the Victoria Conservatory of Music Summer Jazz Workshop program for the last few years, Misha is debuting this year at JazzFest.

Current Band Lineup: Misha Piatigorsky (piano), Kelby MacNayr (drums), Sean Drabitt (bass).

LOCATION:
Alix Goolden Hall, 907 Pandora Avenue, Victoria

CONTACT INFO:
Victoria Jazz Society
(250) 388-4423
info@jazzvictoria.ca

http://jazzvictoria.ca

» Victoria Jazz Society

Victoria BC Fringe Festival Offers 400 Performances August 21-31

Victoria BC Jazz Fest 2008 Kicks Off June 25th at Victoria Conservatory of Music