Are all the noises and hyperactive kids getting you too excited for the holiday season?

Take a deep breathe and check out these upcoming free concerts at the Vancouver Academy of Music in Kits Point.

Lift Every Voice and Sing: Holiday Choral Concert, Saturday December 15th, 2:00pm. Five choirs with singers of all ages, will join together for a holiday celebration of music from around the world.

Strawberry & Tea Student Concerts, Sunday December 16th, 1:00 and 3:00pm. The monthly series features students from a variety of programs celebrating all levels of musical learning. Topped with a serving of tea and strawberries.

The Vancouver Academy of Music is, in the words of Joseph Elworthy, President & CEO, “a place of vibrancy that celebrates the inspiring nature of the performing arts. Founded in 1969, VAM has been spreading a love of learning and musical excellence for generations of aspiring musicians.”

The fundamental purpose is to explore the transformative power of music through fostering an inclusive learning environment. They have a team of devoted faculty with strong professional backgrounds. From early childhood to adult learning, VAM delivers world-class music education to students of all ages and abilities, in private and class instruction.

For your local history lesson: the building where the VAM currently resides started as an old Royal Canadian Air Force warehouse in Vanier Park. I have a strong connection to the RCAF. My father flew in World War II patrolling over the North Atlantic. You can read about Capt. Vincent Kendan McCuaig’s career in Flying Duchesses: Aristocratic Adventures of a Canadian Pilot.

All the other buildings in this part of Vanier Park were demolished. The Community Music School of Greater Vancouver with imagination, determination and massive fund-raising created a new school for music. Max Wyman, of The Vancouver Sun, wrote on January 11, 1974, “You only need to open our ears to become aware of the enormous expansion of music-making that has been going on in this city.”

The article continued with a quote from Mr. Steven Staryk “The school has a definite role to play as a community school of music – as a centre where all members of the community have an opportunity to learn to play.” On May 9, 1976, the Music Centre was dedicated to the City of Vancouver and was the most modern music centre of its kind on the west coast, serving 1400 BC students.

Do you want your children to have some music lessons? Here’s the place to go.

Vancouver Academy of Music, 1270 Chestnut Street, 604-734-2301, vam.ca

Last modified: December 13, 2018

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