Cari Burdett Music

11th Annual Winter Solstice Music

A Musical Celebration of Light and Reflection

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Featuring

  • Cari Burdett Cari Burdett
  • Adrian Dolan Adrian Dolan
  • Adam Dobres Adam Dobres
  • Maeve Iredale Maeve Iredale
  • Quin Etheridge-Pedden Quin Etheridge-Pedden
  • Scott White Scott White
Wonderful Music. Moving.
Raffi
Most xmas concerts are sweet but ordinary, yours was truly extraordinary. What a gift to the community.
Audience Member
It’s become a family tradition that we look forward to every year.
Audience Member
I never miss Cari Burdett’s Solstice Concert! It always features an incredible line up of dynamic local talent, and is a warm, heartfelt community event that absolutely completes the season!
Jennie Stevens, Woodruff Music School
Cari, this concert was deeply moving for me. Thank you for the beauty you bring to us through music, and thank you to all the other musicians that shared the stage. May we all come back next year for the Solstice.
Elke
So magical and nourishing. Me and my kids enjoyed it so much! Thank you for being such a beautiful community leader and spearheading many amazing projects.
Raina
Absolutely delightful from A to Z. The concert still resonates inside my soul. Such talented singers and such artistic musicians.
Audience Member
Absolutely beautiful!! I was crying at the first song. Thank you for the space you hold in this community, it is so inspiring to hear about.
Audience Member

A Musical Celebration of Light and Reflection

Save the dates

December 12, Sooke
December 16, Courtenay
December 18, Salt Spring Island
December 19, Nanaimo
December 20, Duncan
December 21, Victoria James Bay

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WATCH THE LIVESTREAM
"Wonderful Music. Moving"
— Raffi
"It’s become a family tradition that we look forward to every year.” 

-Audience Member

“I never miss Cari Burdett’s Solstice Concert! It always features an incredible line up of dynamic local talent, & is a warm, heartfelt community event that absolutely completes the season! xo ”

-Jennie Stevens, Woodruff Music School

"Cari, this concert was deeply moving for me. Thank you for the beauty you bring to us through music, and thank you to all the other musicians that shared the stage. May we all come back next year for the Solstice. And a blessed year to all until then."

-elke

"...so magical and nourishing. Me and my kids enjoyed it so much! Thank you for being such a beautiful community leader and spearheading many amazing projects."

-Raina

"Absolutely delightful from A-Z. The concert still resonates inside my soul. Such talented singers and such artistic musicians. I look forward to more in '24."
"Absolutely beautiful!! I was crying at the first song. Thank you for the space you hold in this community, it is so inspiring to hear about."

Happy Winter Solstice 2026

Direct contributions towards the artists can be sent to:

1) In Canada – direct etransfer to: cari@cariburdett.com
2) Via Paypal at: joythroughmusic@shaw.ca (Please choose only Friends and Family payment option)

Please add a note in the comments that this is for Winter Solstice Contributions

Thank you for your support and we wish you a beautiful 2026.

Addon: Donate to the Cowichan Youth Emergency Shelter

5% of all concert proceeds will be donated to Mischa Lelum, the new Cowichan Youth Emergency Shelter. This shelter provides 15 to 18-year-olds in crisis – or at risk of harm or homelessness – with safe, critical support. It is open day and night for youth in need.

DONATE NOW

Winter Solstice 2026

Save the Dates

  • December 12 Sooke, Knox Church7:00 PM
  • December 16 Courtenay, Regier TheatreTime TBA
  • December 18 Salt Spring Island, All Saints by the Sea3:00 PM & 7:00 PM
  • December 19 Nanaimo, AUC Events3:00 PM & 7:00 PM
  • December 20 Duncan, St. Peter's Quamichan3:00 PM & 7:00 PM
  • December 21 Victoria, James Bay United Church3:00 PM & 7:00 PM

This December, acclaimed vocalist and artistic director Cari Burdett brings her beloved Winter Solstice Concert back to the Cowichan Valley and Vancouver Island communities. Featuring some of BC’s finest musicians – including Adrian Dolan, Quin Etheridge Pedden, and Scott White – and the radiant voices of Cari Burdett and Maeve Iredale, this annual concert series weaves together soulful harmonies, evocative strings, and songs that honor the season’s stillness and renewal. More than a concert, it’s an immersive, heart-opening experience – where audience voices join in call-and-response, shared wishes, and reflection.

Donate to the Cowichan Youth Emergency Shelter

5% of all concert proceeds will be donated to Mischa Lelum, the new Cowichan Youth Emergency Shelter. This shelter provides 15 to 18-year-olds in crisis – or at risk of harm or homelessness – with safe, critical support. It is open day and night for youth in need.

DONATE NOW

8 Shows and 6 Locations This Year

Or Get Tickets to Watch Online

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Featured Performers

Cari Burdett

Cari Burdett is a vocalist, songwriter, and community arts leader whose work blends jazz, world music, art song, and opera with theatrical flair. Inspired by French swing, Spanish gypsy jazz, and Italian ballads, her performances are filled with passion and joie de vivre.

Her debut album Magnolia, produced by Grammy and Juno Award–winner Joby Baker, earned five Western Canadian Music Award nominations and won two Vancouver Island Music Awards. Supported by FACTOR, BC Arts Council, and Canada Council grants, she is preparing her next album of originals, Where Is Love, for release in 2026.

Classically trained in opera at McGill University and London’s Royal Academy of Music, she brings 30 years of vocal improvisation and intuitive pedagogy, shaped by mentors Rhiannon and Par Ahlbom. Cari is the founder of Lila Music and Nature Centre in the Cowichan Valley, where she leads choirs, wilderness programs, and community arts rooted in land-based learning and collaboration with Coast Salish Elders.

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Maeve Iredale
Maeve Iredale is a Salt Spring–based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and community choir leader whose work celebrates the power of collective voice. A vocal coach, dancer, improviser, and meditation instructor, she brings a warm, playful spirit to every performance. Informed by studies in sacred clowning, somatic meditation, and the vocal improvisation traditions of Rhiannon and Bobby McFerrin, Maeve blends heart, humour, and deep listening, inviting audiences to experience the joy of connection through song.
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Adrian Dolan
Adrian Dolan is a Vancouver-based, award-winning producer, engineer, and multi-instrumentalist, celebrated for his work with the roots ensemble The Bills. Renowned as one of Canada’s finest fiddlers, Adrian also excels as a composer and arranger, contributing intricate string and brass arrangements across genres from folk and bluegrass to jazz. As Producer of the Year at the 2013 Island Music Awards, he has collaborated with artists like Ruth Moody, The Chieftains, and Barney Bentall, bringing his skillful touch to both stage and studio.
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Scott White
Scott White is a multifaceted bassist, back in Canada after 23 years in Europe in jazz, concert, and theatre world. Scott is performing in a number of top-notch ensembles on the west coast (The Bills), played with Rolf Harris, Paul Horn, Tommy Banks, Bill Henderson, and many more greats, toured much of the world in various bands, acted as music director for a Cirque du Soleil show in Germany, and practiced music therapy for years in various hospitals and care facilities.
Quin Etheridge-Pedden
Quin Etheridge-Pedden is a multi-instrumentalist who began playing fiddle at age 6. With classical violin technique and a diploma in Jazz studies from VIU, Quin merges fiddle and jazz, creating a unique sound. He has performed throughout his life, touring on fiddle, guitar, and electric bass, and is currently on tour with The Unfaithful Servants and Élise LeBlanc.
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Adam Dobres

Adam Dobres is a folk-oriented guitarist with a fluid touch and an adaptive, genre-crossing sensibility. Born in Canada and based on Pender Island, B.C., he has toured internationally with artists ranging from folk ensemble The Ruth Moody Band to pop-rock singer Toni Childs, earning a reputation for taste, tone, and musical empathy on stages around the world.

In 2016, Adam stepped into the spotlight with his self-titled debut album, which earned a nomination for Instrumental Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards. Whether as a featured soloist or a collaborative sideman, he brings lyricism, finesse, and an instinct for serving the song.

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Media

Click for Full EPK

Photo Gallery
Winter Solstice Video Gallery: Through the Years
In the Media
(Click image to read full article)
(Click image to read full article)
Winter Solstice Concerts 10 Years Strong

Buy Tickets

THIS YEAR'S SHOW HAS SOLD OUT!

THANK YOU EVERYONE!

*Note: Although all tickets have been sold, there is a good chance some seats will still be available, as there are always some ticket holders who do not attend. Please inquire in person at the door.

Livestream

To livestream the Sunday show (Dec 22nd at 2:30pm), please send a suggested minimum donation of $10 via Paypal or etransfer to cari@cariburdett.com

CLICK HERE to view Livestream

Saturday, Dec. 21st, 2:30pm

St. Peter Quamichan Hall (5800 Church Rd, Duncan, BC)

$20 Early Bird November
$30 December General
$35 at the Door

BUY ONLINE (SOLD OUT)

Saturday, Dec. 21st, 7pm

St. Peter Quamichan Hall (5800 Church Rd, Duncan, BC)

$20 Early Bird November
$30 December General
$35 at the Door

BUY ONLINE (SOLD OUT)

Sunday, Dec 22th, 2:30pm

James Bay United (511 Michigan St. James Bay Victoria)

$20 Early Bird November
$30 December General
$35 at the Door

BUY ONLINE (SOLD OUT)

Thank You to This Year's Sponsors

(click/tap logo to visit site)

Thank You to Last Year's Sponsors

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for our 2025 performances,
please enquire by email.

Become A Sponsor

Skip to our online sponsor application

We invite businesses and community members to support our Winter Solstice Music Event, helping us bring high-caliber musicians to perform in intimate, small venues. To achieve this, we rely on sponsorship to cover essential costs while keeping the event affordable and accessible. By joining us as a sponsor, your business will be featured prominently in our event program, on posters throughout the community, and across our online platforms.

Sponsorship Packages and Benefits

We offer the following sponsorship tiers, each designed to support different aspects of the event:

  • $1,000 Sponsorship (5 available): Covers a guest artist’s fee. Includes prominent recognition and 3 complimentary tickets to either of the Duncan shows.
  • $500 Sponsorship (6 available): Includes program and poster recognition, plus 3 complimentary tickets to a show.
  • $250 Sponsorship (8 available): Supports event logistics with recognition in our program and on posters.

To register your sponsorship, please fill out our online form.

Community and Cultural Impact

This event celebrates our community’s diverse cultural tapestry, featuring Indigenous, English, and French-Canadian languages and weaving together music and traditions. Proceeds will benefit ABCD/Arts-Based Community Discovery, an initiative fostering community connection through art and nature. Your sponsorship will help make this annual celebration possible, supporting affordable ticket prices and fair compensation for artists.

Past Sponsors

We thank our previous supporters, including Resthouse, Cardino’s Shoes, True Grain Bakery, Thrifty Foods, Real Canadian Superstore, Duncan Garage, Warmland Dentistry, Valley Voice, Alinea Legal, Dinter’s Nursery, and Community Farm Store.

Program Highlights and Community Benefits

Our Winter Solstice Music Event serves:

  • Youth, women, and families
  • Elderly and mature citizens
  • Indigenous peoples
  • Immigrants and newcomers
  • Persons with disabilities and cultural minorities

By supporting us, you help us continue our commitment to offering inclusive, accessible arts programming that builds community bonds and celebrates intercultural diversity.

Goals for Community Engagement

Success means paying our musicians a fair wage, covering venue costs, providing travel and meal support, and recognizing community supporters like you. This annual event showcases the best of our community’s cultural and musical talent, with a focus on building lasting relationships.

Recognition for Your Sponsorship

We will recognize your support across multiple platforms:

  • Digital and Social Media: Website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Email List
  • Print and Community Presence: Event programs, posters, and newsletters
  • Additional Recognition: Custom mentions on our community outreach platforms

Thank you for considering this opportunity to support a cherished community event. Learn more about our projects and community engagement on CariBurdett.com. Together, let’s celebrate the longest night of the year with music, arts, and shared culture.

Apply to Sponsor this year's Winter Solstice Show

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