Back in early August, I had the enormous pleasure of spending a week making music and listening to some fantastic musicians on Denman Island, BC. Denman Island is considered by many people to be just an island hop point to get to Hornby Island, which is only accessible by ferry from the eastern shore of Denman. People who simply drive through Denman don't know what they're missing out on!
The Kaimerata Festival on Denman has been an annual occurrence for a number of years now, run by Canadian ex-pat Kai Gleusteen and his partner, French pianist Catherine Ordronneau, and it brings together musicians from across the country (though this year the Winnipeg contingent was quite strong!). This year the music was all Mozart chamber music, and every concert was a joy to attend, as could be confirmed by the packed audiences every night of the festival.
Apart from the music making, the people I met on Denman made the week totally unforgettable. The warmth, respect, and passion that the locals have for classical music was completely refreshing and unexpected, and it revitalized my conception of the effect that making music can have on people. No one reminded me more of this than one of my wonderful hosts, Jim McConkey.
Jim would always greet me with a laugh that seemed to come from his soul, a place where time seems to have stopped some time many years ago, and keeps his 91-year-old body and mind fed with the energy and abilities of a young man. His lasting passions in life seem to be split between skiing and classical music, and his many years on this planet have gifted him with experiences and stories of the like I have never found more interesting or inspiring. If at any point I lost some self-worth or self-respect for what I do, Jim managed to completely flip things around for me simply by showing me how powerful music has been and continues to be for him in his life. Seeing this gentleman's face and hearing him laugh after a concert is all a musician like me could need to know that what we're doing is impactful, effective, and necessary.
Returning from a summer of travelling literally from St. John's to Bamfield, I can only imagine how many music festivals there are out in small communities around this great landmass, and they're likely all very special in their own ways, which makes me happy to say that none of them could be quite like the one on Denman. If you ever find your self in the area, be sure to plan a visit around this wonderful festival!