Now in its 19th year, Daniel Lapp’s Home for Christmas concert, presented by the Victoria Conservatory of Music (VCM), is back, in person for the first time since 2019. Led by the renowned fiddler and jazz trumpet player, this toe-tapping and joy-filled Christmas tradition returns to Alix Goolden Performance Hall for three special concerts this December 16 and 17.
Feel the Christmas spirit come alive as founder and director Lapp leads his legendary ensembles: the BC Fiddle Orchestra, Folkestra! and the Joy of Life Choir, accompanied by the renowned Shiny H’ornaments, Swing’n Shepherds, and the Strings of Lights house band. Highlights include special performances by Lapp.
This year’s special guest is Andrea Menard, a powerhouse Métis performer, who bridges cultural and language boundaries by speaking from her heart. Her voice is lyrical, raw, and reminiscent of the jazz and blues singers of the 1940s, yet captures the depth, humour and wisdom of her ancestors.
Menard has recorded four critically acclaimed albums—Lift, Sparkle, Simple Steps and The Velvet Devil—and written and starred in two made-for-television programs: The Velvet Devil, which was adapted from her hit one-woman musical stage play, and Sparkle, which aired on APTN for six consecutive holiday seasons.
Part of the all-star cast of the soon-to-be-released CTV series Sullivan’s Crossing, Menard is a five-time Gemini-nominated actress and a 15-time music award winner, and was named ACTRA National’s Woman of the Year in 2021.
The three performances of Home for Christmas bring together current students and VCM alumni to share a variety of Canadian coast-to-coast Christmas-inspired tunes and welcome family and friends back to Victoria for the beloved holiday season.
The concert takes place at the VCM’s Alix Goolden Performance Hall, an elegant 800-seat venue at 907 Pandora Avenue, referred to as “a jewel box of a building” by performer Emmylou Harris.
Performances are at 7:30 pm on Saturday, December 16 and 2 pm and 7:30 pm on Sunday, December 17.
Tickets ($15.26 to $27.17) are available online at showpass.com/dan-lapps-home-for-christmas, by phone at 250-386-5311, or in person at the VCM front desk at 900 Johnson Street.
Founded in 1964, the VCM is one of Canada’s most innovative and progressive music schools. A non-profit organization, its mission is to enrich lives through music in a thriving community accessible to all.
Learn more at vcm.bc.ca.