A Benefit Concert Series · Victoria, BC

Welcome to Victoria

An evening of music, generosity, and community — raising our voices so one family can find safety and a new home.

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Music with a purpose

Every ticket, every bid, and every gift goes toward privately sponsoring a refugee family fleeing war and persecution — helping them rebuild their lives in peace and security here in Victoria.

Our first deadline $42,450 by July 31, 2026
$28,000 raised so far — two-thirds of the way, with more promised!Goal to keep the application moving

Beyond this deadline, we aim to reach at least $60,000 to support the family when they arrive.

Save the Date · Wednesday, July 22

A World of Music

World & Folk Wednesday, July 22 · 7:00 pm · Doors 6:00 pm

A World of Music

VenueSt. Philip’s Church
2928 Eastdowne Road, Victoria
AdmissionBy donation at the door
FeaturingA Silent Auction

Steluța • Irâj (with Douglas Hensley) • Jordie & Habbous

A rich potpourri of Balkan and Eastern European folk, Persian classical, and Arab pop and folk — a journey across continents in one evening.

The Steluta quartet with their instruments

Steluța

Balkan & Eastern European Folk Quartet

Steluța (“little star” in Romanian) is a Victoria-based quartet playing a constellation of styles — from Balkan and Eastern European folk dances to Celtic touches and distinctive originals with a splash of classical. Watch them live →

  • Martina Peladeau — flutes, recorders & voice; studied in Germany and became the sound of West Coast flute on the rocky shores outside the Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino
  • Kate Rhodes — violin, viola, accordion & voice; has played in the Vancouver, Winnipeg and Victoria symphonies, bringing a flair of virtuosity to the group’s repertoire
  • Douglas Hensley — guitars & oud, composer; plays Renaissance to Persian to Classical, and teaches guitar at the Victoria Conservatory of Music
  • Alex Olson — basses, mandolins & percussion, composer; long-time Victoria Symphony member and veteran of many local folk ensembles
The Iraj ensemble with their instruments

Irâj

Persian Classical Music from Iran

Named for a small village in the heart of Iran’s Central Desert where the musicians first came together, Irâj carries forward the spirit of community and mentorship — with special guest Douglas Hensley on oud.

  • Davoud Jafari Gharieh Ali — Ney (Persian flute)
  • Tayebeh Adami Bafghi — Tar (Persian six-stringed instrument)
  • Keyvan FerdosBahrampour — Vocal
  • Azar Mirzaei — Setar (Persian four-stringed instrument)
Douglas Hensley

Douglas Hensley

Guitar, Oud & Lute

Trained as a classical guitarist at the San Francisco Conservatory and a student of prominent lutenists and Persian masters, Douglas performs on guitar, lute, oud, setar and more with ensembles including the Victoria Symphony and Pacific Opera Victoria. He teaches at the Victoria Conservatory of Music.

Jordie and Habbous performing at St. Philip’s

Jordie & Habbous

Arab Pop & Folk

A heartfelt set of Arab pop and folk songs — music that carries the warmth of home and ties the evening directly to the family this concert series hopes to welcome.

★ Plus a Silent Auction — bid on wonderful items and give a little extra to the cause. See our donors →
A World of Music concert poster, Wednesday July 22

Take the poster with you

Help spread the word — download the concert poster to share by email, print for a noticeboard, or post online.

Download the Poster ↓

❤ A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who came out, gave, bid, and sang along at our earlier fundraising events — you brought us two-thirds of the way to our goal.

Past events in the series
  • An Evening of Jazz — Sunday, June 28 at Broadview United Church, with Pablo Cardenas & His Band, Leif Bradshaw and Diane Pancel, plus a silent auction and livestream.
  • Belly Dancing Fundraiser — Saturday, June 20 at Kulea Culture Society, 1303 Broad Street.

With Heartfelt Thanks

Our Silent Auction Donors

We are deeply grateful to the generous businesses and individuals who have donated items to our silent auctions. Their kindness helps welcome a family home. (This list is updated as new gifts arrive — thank you!)

Bin 4 Burger Lounge / Lot 1 Pasta Bar Blue Fox Cafe (919 Fort Street) Blue Sky Clothing Co. Bocci Lighting Caffe Fantastico Caribbean Village Cloverdale Paint (Cedar Hill X Road) Dodd’s Furniture & Mattress Errant Empire — Acupuncture Fifth Street Grill Forbes Pharmacy ICA (Richmond Road) Georgia Andrews — Fabric Artist Gloria Schmidt — Artist Il Terrazzo Jennings Florist (Estevan Avenue) The Keg Kirby’s Source for Sports Knotty By Nature Laura Tinker Nohra Thai Cuisine (Estevan Avenue) North Park Bike Shop Oak Bay Recreation Centre Parsonage Cafe Pharmasave (Oak Bay Avenue) Prestige Picture Framing (Oak Bay Avenue) Puddin’ Belly Condiment Co. — Susan Blundell Sampson’s Antiques (Oak Bay) Save-On Foods Special Teas Inc. St. Philip’s Congregation Thrifty Foods (Cloverdale) Timeless Toys (Estevan Avenue) Victoria Vision

List last updated July 8, 2026 · more donors to come

Why We’re Singing

A family seeking safety

A member of one of our local congregations came to Canada in 2016 as a refugee, after fleeing the war in Syria. Canada offered safety, stability, and the chance to rebuild. Now, with the help of our community, she is trying to give her sister’s family that same opportunity.

Her sister left Syria with her three daughters carrying only a few bags, leaving a lifetime of memories behind. They escaped to Lebanon hoping it would be temporary, but life in exile has brought uncertainty, financial hardship, and constant worry. After years of waiting and repeated rejections, a private sponsorship spot finally opened in May 2026 — and a group from St. Philip’s, St. Barnabas, and Broadview United Church came together to make it happen.

“This sponsorship is more than paperwork — it is a chance for children to grow up without fear, for parents to live with dignity, and for a family torn apart by war to finally have hope again.”

The sponsorship group must raise $42,450 by July 31, 2026 for the application to keep moving forward, and at least $60,000 in all to support the family once they arrive. With your help — and a little music — we can do this.

🔒 Please note: for the family’s safety and the protection of loved ones still abroad, names and identifying details are being kept anonymous. Thank you for understanding, and for your compassion.