Westben – Authenticity & Beauty

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The annual Westben Festival enters its 24^th season this summer with an array of sounds from the worlds of classical, pop, jazz, and musicals, all presented in the bucolic setting of Campbellford, Ont. Co-founder, Artistic and Managing Director Brian Finley says the festival is a broader experience that seeks to integrate music with nature and creative exploration.

This year’s lineup features soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee and tenor Ben Heppner with the Elmer Iseler Singers, and pianist Janina Fialkowska; concert performances of Les Misérables; and a tribute to Canadian singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell. Audiences have the opportunity to pair the music of Mozart and Chantal Kreviazuk, respectively, with local food and wine events. “To experience music in this setting is much more than listening,” Finley says. “Here you can enjoy the area, meet local people, and taste local tastes. It deepens the experience.”

Situated roughly halfway between Ottawa and Toronto, the town of Campbellford has been the festival’s home since 2000. Originally started by singers Brian Finley and Donna Bennett, the festival has grown into a multi-week event complemented by an equally varied assortment of year-round programming. Last year’s program showcased that eclecticism with soprano Karina Gauvin, comedian Mary Walsh, cellist Ofra Harnoy, the Canadian Brass, and a musical showcase celebrating the music of Swedish supergroup ABBA.

It was a suitably celebratory return after the enforced coronavirus lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, during which time Westben embarked on producing a series of online musical offerings. “We tried to get the Westben experience into living rooms—and that was good both for our immediate community, but also for people further abroad who were curious about us,” Finley says.

In addition to expanding their global audience, the pandemic years allowed the festival to add a 19-foot screen and laser projector to the largest of their three performance spaces, a barn with an audience capacity of 400 and a changeable seating configuration. “We’re excited about working with video and music and nature,” Finley says of the new setup, “and to see what kind of artistic explorations can happen.”

Just as exciting is Westben’s Composer-Performer Residency, now entering its sixth year. The program offers “a chance for people and cultures and creators from all over the world to gather here—that’s going to be a big part of our future.” Past participants in the residency have come from Canada, the United States, Colombia, Ireland, and the Philippines. “Westben is safe and inspiring,” Finley says of the attraction for artists. “It’s safe in terms of being welcoming, supportive, and open to new ideas and experiences, and inspiring in terms of what nature brings: authenticity and beauty.”