Northumberland, ON (January 9, 2024) – As one of its co-founders, I (Donna Bennett) could say it feels like yesterday we were putting the first shovel into the ground at Westben. I remember Laverne McGee preparing the ground for the Barn to be built, timber frame specialist Didier Schvartz directing the crane operator to put the barn structure together, and the volunteers carrying trays of strawberries and champagne to the reception after the opening July 1, 2000 concert of full orchestra with 10 soloists.
In 2024, Westben is celebrating 25 years of concerts, experiences, community programs, workshops, original works, Chalk Talks, international residences and more. We are proud to be located in Northumberland County, 40 minutes from Cobourg, Peterborough and Belleville, near Campbellford in Trent Hills.
It started in 1999 when myself, co-founder Brian Finley, and a circle of our friends gathered on the front lawn dreaming about how music could be continued in the community. It was the summer festival of dreams, 4-week classical event that took a year to organize for the turn of the millennium. Twenty-five years later, Westben has grown into an international, year-round centre for Connection & Creativity Through Music. It features many genres of music, such as classical, jazz, folk, fiddle, rock and country. Westben is very grateful for the developing partnerships with Alderville and Curve Lake First Nations.
Westben is a not-for-profit charitable organization. The family consists of volunteers, members, donors, ticket buyers, partnerships with local business, tourism organizations, sponsors, media, government agencies, foundations and a small but excellent staff.
During COVID, 90 per cent of programming was halted, but Westben didn’t shrink. It invested and grew. A vibrant new digital program emerged with concerts, kids videos, podcasts. Two new venues were built: the Willow Hill Amphitheatre and the Campfire. New partnerships with the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Mary West property across the road from Westben have opened up new small group experiences involving health, wellness and music in nature. The new sustainability committee has developed 20 bid houses on the property, a new Miyawaki tree garden, hoola hoop gardens, new waste stations and more.
In celebration of Westben’s 25th anniversary, we’ve developed a four-part summer program surrounded by year-round events at the Schoolhouse and elsewhere. The summer program includes:
- The Selfish Giant (6 performances in June 14-25) – A large-scale original musical written for Westben by Brian Finley and Ken Tizzard based on the short story of Oscar Wilde, The Selfish Giant will feature all the Westben choruses along with several guest artists and an eclectic gathering of creative personnel. The presentation seeks to focus on “the Garden” – a celebration of the beauty, diversity and caretakership of nature, and the responsibility of passing that on to future generations.
- 25th Anniversary Celebration (June 30) – Focus on local and guest artists, and a community picnic.
- Summer Concerts & Experiences (July 4 – August 4) – 26 concerts at The Barn, Willow Hill and Campfire, including Film Nights and Barnful of Broadway. Special guests include Gerald Finley, Angela Hewitt, Jeremy Dutcher, Colin Mochrie & Deb McGrath, New Zealand String Quartet, Steve Page, Holly Cole, Sarah Slean, Big Smoke Brass, Andy Forgie, Kevin Drew, guests from Alderville and Curve Lake, and more. Sounds of Nature, a guided musical nature walk, expands into a new experience – Forest Bathing.
- Performer-Composer Residency (August 19 – 25) – Our 7th collaborative gathering of international performer-composers.
Year-round programming:
- Fall Gala September 21
- Fall Concerts September 28-30 with Sounds of Nature series
- 6 Chalk Talks at the Schoolhouse
- 6 Schoolhouse Chalk Talk Concerts
- March Break activities (Schoolhouse & Mary West)
- Chorus projects (including A Westben Christmas Carol)
- Artworth at Westben
- Westben in the Schools
- Digital programming
The experience of music in nature elevates Westben beyond just a series of great performances. Its gourmet picnics on the meadow, Dare to Pair dining pre-concert events with wine tasting and storytelling, curated wine and beer selections from the Milkshed, pre-concert chats, guided nature walks with live music on a neighboring Nature Reserve, and the chance to relax by the pond all make Westben a unique place to be in Northumberland.
