The Valley Concert Society (VCS) celebrates its 35th anniversary season on Saturday, Nov. 4 with a special concert featuring eight bursary winners from the past 10 seasons.
The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium (32315 South Fraser Way).
Each year, the VCS awards two bursaries of $300 each to deserving music students in the community.
As well, the society awards a $150 bursary to the winner of a string category in the Abbotsford Music Festival.
The eight winners performing on Saturday range from high school students to graduates of university music programs to people who have performed professionally.
Both of the 2017 recipients will perform. Rebecca Toews will open the program on the piano with a Rhapsody by Brahms. Anna Krahn will offer works on the piano and the violin.
Elise Thiessen, who sings and plays the piano, will include a song she composed herself.
Cello works will range from Bach to a favourite by Elgar to a fun and quirky piece by Aaron Minsky.
Rebecca Isaac will bring her French horn and play a piece composed by F. Strauss with piano accompaniment. Abigail Takenaka and Josh Herrett will perform piano works by Ravel and Rachmaninoff.
Stephanie Racheter, who travelled all the way from Scotland to take part in this concert, will bring music with a Scottish flavour as she sings and plays the violin.
The evening concludes with a reception, to which everyone is invited.
The evening concludes with a reception, to which everyone is invited.
The evening concludes with a reception, to which everyone is invited.
Tickets are $15 or free to season subscribers. They are available online at valleyconcertsociety.com.