After too much time away, music lovers will find themselves returning this summer to the annual Music by the Sea Festival (MBTS) for the first time since 2019, now in two locations on British Columbia’s spectacular west coast. The shows take place at the Rix Centre for Ocean Discoveries in incredible Bamfield, July 23-30, and, for the first time, at the Victoria International Marina in Victoria’s iconic Inner Harbour, August 1-5.
The festival features 14 concerts, spanning musical genres, from classical to jazz, chamber and contemporary, and offers participating artists from around the globe chances for spontaneity, exploration and collaboration. The ears and the hearts of the audience members will be the greatest beneficiaries at these enchanting MBTS events.
Since 2006, professional musicians from around the world have gathered in Bamfield to make music surrounded by boundless nature.
The remote location on the west coast of Vancouver Island attracts a growing number of adventurous music lovers, but “it has always been our goal to bring festival performances to Victoria for a wider audience,” says executive artistic director Christopher Donison. “2022 is finally the year we will be presenting a series of five indoor concerts at the stunning Victoria International Marina on the Inner Harbour, with the same company of artists performing in Bamfield.”
This year MBTS welcomes a company of 16 artists who will work together to create this year’s unique program. Artists remain in residence for the duration of the MBTS festival, coalescing into new groups and ensembles, creating fresh works that are added to the MBTS program during the festival.
Individual concert tickets start at $95 and MBTS Festival passes are also available; both can be purchased now at musicbythesea.ca or by phone at 250-728-3887.