Fresh off the heels of its 20th anniversary celebration, Chemainus Classical Concerts continues its 2025 season with "Once Upon a Harp", a solo recital by internationally renowned harpist and composer Josh Layne. The concert takes place Sunday, May 4 at 2 p.m. at St. Michael’s Church in Chemainus.
Layne, praised for his technique and expressive playing, has performed to acclaim across North and South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. His solo program promises to showcase the harp’s versatility with a mix of his own music, modern pieces and creative versions of well-known classical works.
Highlights include the Adagio from Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, all three movements from Vivaldi’s Winter and Layne’s arrangement of Smetana’s The Moldau, a sweeping symphonic poem evoking the flow of the river’s journey through the Czech countryside. The program also features Baroque Flamenco by Deborah Henson-Conant, Légende by Henriette Renié, and Layne’s own composition, Uncharted Shores.
Josh Layne began harp studies at age 13 and made his concerto debut just five years later. A prolific soloist and educator, he is also the creator of the biweekly YouTube series “It’s Tuesday…It’s Harp Tuesday!” The series covers all aspects of playing the harp, from the first lesson to in-depth looks at advanced music. With 250-plus episodes and more than two million views, "Harp Tuesday" is a popular resource for harpists all over the world.
Layne’s most recent YouTube project is “Harpist in the Wild”, a new video series combining his love of music and the outdoors.
One of the world’s oldest instruments, the harp dates back to at least 2500 BC. From ancient temples to medieval courts and modern concert stages, it has been reinvented time and again while retaining its essential elegance and emotional pull.
In his article titled "The History of the Harp", principal orchestral harpist and Stanford University lecturer Dan Levitan wrote, “From the temples of ancient Egypt to the courts of medieval Europe and finally the concert halls of today, the harp has been repeatedly reinvented while retaining its essential timeless appeal. Musicians continue to be inspired by its magic, finding new contexts to unleash the harp's legendary power to transport listeners."
"Once Upon a Harp" follows the April 6 event that marked two decades of Chemainus Classical Concerts. Founded as St. Michael’s Presents… Society, the series has grown from a modest idea into a beloved community institution. Founding and current board members, donors and volunteers were honoured at the anniversary celebration, which included a performance by 20-year-old Ukrainian pianist Sasha Luchkov followed by a reception.
Tickets for "Once Upon a Harp" are $30 at the door, or $10 for those under 18. Reserved tickets are available for $23 if prepaid, or $25 at the door. To reserve, call 250-748-8383.
For more information, visit chemainusclassicalconcerts.ca.
