After two years of pandemic restrictions, St. Dunstan’s Basilica is finally able to welcome music lovers to their summer concert series during the month of August.
This year’s focus is on local Island talent, kicking off on Tuesday, August 9 with 16 year old Jason Chen in his debut recital featuring works of Bach, Handel, Mendelssohn and Franck.
He is the student of Basilica organist Leo Marchildon, and winner of the Junior Rose-Bowl competition at the Queens County Music Festival in 2021.
On Wednesday, August 17, Leo Marchildon performs Cesar Franck’s epic “Grand Piece Symphonique”, a virtual “symphony for organ”, along with other theatrically dramatic repertoire.
Then, on Tuesday, August 23, countertenor Vhikthør Vhølkhem teams up with Leo in a program fusing opera and orchestral music in unique combinations.
These include works from Mexico, France and Germany.
Finally, on Wednesday August 31, a special concert will showcase the vocal talents of the various Basilica soloists performing pieces outside of their usual Sunday morning repertoire. All concerts start at 1 PM and last about an hour. Admission is by free will offering.