Event

LADIES SING AND PLAY JAZZ

Outstanding local female performers and visiting artists will be participating in the Ladies Sing and Play Jazz event, which will be one of the highlights of the Cape Breton Jazz and World Music Festival as this show takes place at the Highland Arts Theatre in Sydney on Tuesday, August 9, 2016, at 7:30 pm. Tickets will cost $25 and are available at the door.

One of the players taking part in this show will be jazz clarinet player Virginia MacDonald Born and raised in Ontario, Virginia has solid Cape Breton jazz music roots. Her dad Kirk MacDonald is one of Canadas premiere jazz saxophone players, and has played with some of the worlds great jazz players. And Virginias grandfather Jerome was a Cape Breton music promoter back in the early days of rock n roll.

Virginia grew up in a musical family and started playing clarinet at a young age. She has established herself as a respected musician/performer across Toronto, playing at numerous venues such as the Rex Hotel, Jazz Bistro, Gate 403, and also performing at events such as the Toronto Jazz Festival and the Beaches Jazz Festival. She has shared the stage with musicians such as Seamus Blake, Rich Perry, Peter Bernstein, Dick Oatts, Harold Mabern, Lorne Lofsky, P.J. Perry and Pat LaBarbera.

Virginia works as both a sidewoman and a leader, frequently performing with her own trios and quartets in Toronto. She currently leads a weekly gig where she plays at Stratosphere Restaurant and Lounge every Friday with her own trio. She recently recorded on Juno-Award winner Kirk MacDonald's 2016 big band album, "Common Ground".

Besides performing, Virginia has taught clarinet for the past several years and is available for private lessons.