It is quickly becoming a tradition that the sounds of summer at the Shatford Centre include a compilation of classical music, jazz and rock.
“This is the perfect venue for music programs. You can have space for concerts, ensembles in different rooms and the big stage with beautiful acoustics and enough room for a big audience,” said Jane Shaak, executive director of the Shatford Centre/Okanagan School of the Arts.
The summer music program in the historic building kicks off with Scott Woods OldTime Jubilee concert on June 12 with a special guest appearance by Fiddlekidz. Woods and his band return to the Shatford with a new show set to honour the days when Don Messer and his Islanders ruled the airways with their old-time variety music shows, both on radio and television. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children.
In July, much of the focus at the Shatford Centre will be geared towards music with a variety of programs and camps. Shaak said it is these types of programs and weekend workshops with artists in residence that are an economic driver for the community.
“This is an economic driver and right on the forefront of cultural tourism are exactly these kinds of things we are doing,” said Shaak.
From July 7 to 11 Strings The Thing returns with its inspiring summer program. Faculty includes Martine denBok, Elizabeth Lupton, Joel Stobbe, John Suderman and Olivia Walsh. Rosemary Thomson and Imant Raminsh will be the guest artists.
The 13th annual summer guitar program and Rock Skool (open to vocalists, guitarists, bassists, drummers, keyboardists and horn players) runs from July 14 to 25. Rock Skool students will show off their two-weeks of hard work at a rock show on July 25.
A proven and successful program for youth designed to get them excited about jazz, Jazz Cool!, runs from July 28 to Aug. 1. This program is open to students in Grades 7 to 12 and any interested adults. Students need a minimum of two years experience on their instrument. The program is run by Will Schlackl, Bernie Addington, Stan Sabourin, Scott Gamble and Craig Thomson.
The Shatford Centre is also busy raising funds for the Penticton Rotary-Shatford Learning Kitchen.
“Everyone is excited about it and how beautiful it is going to be, but the reality is we still need to raise another $20,000 in funds. We are almost there though and we are thrilled about it because the kitchen is going to be fabulous,” said Shaak.
The Shatford Centre/Okanagan School of the Arts will be appearing at the Farmers Market on Saturdays to inform people about the project and how they can contribute. They will be part of a community food and resilience collective with local groups teaching about urban agriculture, food forestry and Okanagan Up-cycle resource community.
“We are hoping in the harvest that people can process food here and have great food and nutrition for people taking our classes and programs. It brings this wonderful feeling of community. We call it a learning kitchen because we want people to create food together and sit down and eat together creating this community,” said Shaak.