A Musical Celebration of Light and Reflection
Sooke Dec 10th
Salt Spring Dec 11th
Chemainus Dec 12th
Ladysmith Dec 14th
Duncan Dec 20th
Victoria Dec 21st
Happy Winter Solstice 2025
Here is our LIVE STREAM video on Youtube for you and your family to enjoy:
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.
Thank you!
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Photo Gallery
Winter Solstice Video Gallery: Through the Years
In the Media
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
Saturday, Dec. 21st, 7pm
St. Peter Quamichan Hall (5800 Church Rd, Duncan, BC)
$20 Early Bird November
$30 December General
$35 at the Door
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
Thank You to This Year's Sponsors
(click/tap logo to visit site)
Thank You to Last Year's Sponsors
please enquire by email.
Become A Sponsor
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
