ISLAND CHAMBER WINDS
Vancouver Island's premier chamber wind ensembleLet's stay in touch! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram or email us at [email protected].
Upcoming Shows
We have a very special show coming up on Saturday June 27: our first fundraising event, with a program of your favourite music from our previous concerts, and a silent auction with lots of amazing local goodies to bid on.Find the details and tickets here!
Past shows
Since 2023, we've performed in Victoria, Sooke, Port Alberni, and on Pender and Salt Spring Islands.
About us
A unique travelling wind ensemble focusing on making living composers and unfamiliar music accessible to all
support us
Upcoming Shows
Summer Fundraising ConcertOne night only in Victoria! Join us on Saturday June 27 for a concert and silent auction in support of our continued work.Tickets are available HEREWe'll play some short, fun pieces that were popular on our past audience surveys, plus maybe a couple of surprises.We'll have refreshments, raffle draws, and plenty of silent auction items for you to bid on.Come for an evening of lighthearted music and help us raise funds for our upcoming season!We're looking for all kinds of silent auction and raffle items for this event. If you have something to donate, we'd love to hear from you at [email protected].
Past Shows
Spring 2026: Still Bravely Singing
Victoria, SookeClément Janequin (arr. Ben Litzcke): Le Chant des Oiseaux
Clare Howard: Above the Final Fields*
Ingrid Stölzel: Echo of the Past*
Erin Lilliefors: Flight
Maya Angelou: Caged Bird, performed by Tenyjah McKenna
Olivier Messiaen: Abime des Oiseaux, performed by Le Lu
Caroline Shaw (arr. Danielle Fisher): and the swallow
Stephanie Berg: We Are Not Birds**Canadian premieres from the Women in Harmoniemusik commissioning consortiumFall 2025: Stormy Seas
Victoria, Pender IslandGaetano Donizetti: Sinfonia for Winds (1817)
Ruth Gipps: Seascape (1958)
Michael Henry: ANIMA -- Aajej, Coromell, Rok (1998)
EKR Hammell: Sandcastles (2022)
Roger Zare: Mare Tranquillitatis (2007)
Anna Clyne: Overflow (2020)
George Enescu: Dixtuor à vents -- II. Modérément (1901)
Ralph Vaughan Williams (arr. Ed Huckeby): Sea Songs (1924)Spring 2025: A Spring Breeze
Victoria, Pender IslandFranz Krommer: Octet Partita Op. 57, movement III (1806)
Svend Schultz: Divertimento (1961)
Nancy Galbraith: Dos Danzas Latinas (2002)
Eleanor Daley (arr. MacInnes): In Remembrance (1993/2024)
Yunfei Li: Five Elements (2021)
Igor Bázlik: Four Pieces for Wind Octet (1991)
Derek Bourgeois (ad. Brand): Serenade (1965)Fall 2024: Autumn Colours
Port Alberni, Salt Spring IslandJudith Bailey: Theme & Variations (1998)
Gordon Jacob: Divertimento in E Flat for Wind Octet (1968)
Yunfei Li: Five Elements (2021)
Ruth Gipps: Wind Octet Op. 65 (1983)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Rondino (1793)
Igor Bazlik: Four Pieces for Wind Octet (1991)Summer 2023: Excursions
Victoria, Pender Island, Salt Spring IslandKimberley Osberg: Our Little Secrets (2018)
Matthijs Kruik: Inquietus (2004)
Aidan M. C. Taylor: Circe (2023)^
Lior Navok: Tetris (2009)
Ruth Gipps: Seascape (1958)
Patrick Glenn Harper: Excursion (2014)^World premiere, commissioned by Island Chamber Winds
About Us
Island Chamber Winds, founded in 2023 by conductor Ben Litzcke, is a non-profit organization based in Victoria. We tour Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands with ensembles of 8+ wind and brass players, bringing unusual music to communities across the region. Our repertoire ranges from classical to contemporary, with a focus on living composers and underperformed music.We want to connect you with music that you won’t hear anywhere else, and we hope you’ll find something to fall in love with!Our performances take place primarily on the territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples, who have been making music on these lands since time immemorial. We work towards reconciliation by undermining colonial power structures in classical music and lifting up voices that have traditionally been silenced.
SUPPORT US
We rely on grants, donations, and sponsorship in order to continue creating affordable concerts. Your support goes primarily towards professional wages for our musicians, as well as venue rentals, sheet music, and commissioning new works.You can make a donation to support our work here.If you would like to make a donation toward a specific part of our work, or inquire about a sponsorship arrangement, please reach out to us at [email protected].We are grateful for all the community support we've received so far from the following people and organizations:
- CRD Arts & Culture Support Service
- Egon Baumann Music Foundation
- Kristina Stevens
- Ann Coombs
- Wildwood Health & Performance
- Long & McQuade Musical Instruments
- Pacific Opera Victoria
- Thrifty Foods Hillside Mall
- Fernwood Coffee
- Ptarmigan Arts
- Rachel Lenkowski Photography