Octet Victoria – Christmas at Wentworth Villa

Experience some well-loved familiar, and less familiar Christmas choral music performed by an ensemble of eight exciting, young professional singers! Soprano Isolde Roberts-Welby, Gina Desiree Johnson, Char Hodgkins, Alana Hayes, Felix Butterfield, Gordon Simmons, Nathan McDonald, and Rowan McWilliams.

Soprano Isolde Roberts-Welby is a fourth-year Bachelor of Music student of Kyron Basu (baritone and arachnid enthusiast) at the University of Victoria. She is also a Choral Scholar at Christ Church Cathedral. Isolde has a special love of early music, which she first discovered as a chorister in the Victoria Children’s Choir.

Gina Desiree Johnson, soprano, sings regularly as a professional chorister with many of Victoria’s premiere ensembles and recently appeared as a soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Victoria Choral Society. Gina also enjoys teaching the music program for Christ Church Cathedral’s childcare centres. When not singing, Gina is a birth doula and tree planter.

Char Hodgkins has sung in many choirs including the Elora Festival singers, Ottawa Bach Choir, St James Cathedral Choir, and of course Octet Victoria. Currently, Char enjoys their job at St John the Divine Anglican church where they sing and conduct. In addition to music, Char plants trees and works at a coffee shop.

Alana Hayes is a versatile and precise performer whose repertoire ranges from baroque to avant-garde. She features regularly as a soloist with Victoria Baroque including in Bach’s St John Passion and Duruflé’s Requiem, and with ensembles such as the Pacific Baroque Festival, Vox Humana, Palm Court Orchestra, and Capriccio. Alana holds a Master’s in Musicology with Performance from UVic.

Tenor Felix Butterfield began singing seriously in Winchester Cathedral choir, UK, aged 9. He enjoys bouldering and playing the piano when he is not rehearsing or performing with various choirs around Victoria. Felix is enrolled in the Vocal Collegium program at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, with a view to doing more solo work in the future.

Tenor Gordon Simmons loves singing and loves singing with good folk – so here we are! Being fairly new to Victoria, Gordon is excited to be performing today and is looking forward to getting to know the audience after the concert.

Nathan McDonald, baritone, is an active singer, teacher, and church music director. Prior to choral singing, musical loves include the trumpet, jazz, and Debussy. Nathan also enjoys rock climbing, baking with his small children, cycle touring, and long walks on the beach.

Victoria native Rowan McWilliams has been an active member of their hometown’s musical community for over 10 years. Rowan has performed with many of the city’s notable groups including as a soloist for the Pacific Baroque Festival and as part of chamber ensembles for the Victoria Symphony and Victoria Baroque.

Host or Publisher Wentworth Villa