On Wednesday, October 30, 2019, Luke Welch will return to Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, for a rare morning performance. This Coffee Concert takes place at Valley Crossway/Calvin Presbyterian Church beginning at 11:00 am, and will feature a program of Domenico…

West Coast Charm
I have always been a traveller of sorts – at a younger age accompanied by my family all around the city, then province, eventually expanding the circle exponentially as my career eventually brought me to Europe and beyond. As a Canadian, these excursions – especially around the national circuit – have always been both intriguing and slightly daunting as the second largest country in the world has a lot to offer and plenty of terrain to cover.

Rejecting Rejection!
It’s every musician’s potential nightmare: after dedicating countless hours to study, practice time, rehearsals, research, and every other imaginable form of preparation, it’s time to search for performance opportunities. In some cases, a clearer path is forged for individuals who are able to successfully compete for an award, which is often padded with the reward of a generous concert schedule for a coming season or so. In other instances, through general exposure, recommendation, or a promoter’s positive impressions after attending an artist’s live performance, there is also the possibility of receiving an invitation to perform at a particular venue or concert series.

Back in the Groove!
Now that the new album is released, and the concert dates are set, the next live performance encounter is only a couple of days away – this time in Bonn, Germany! I have been extremely fortunate to visit this exquisite city in the past, first as a tourist and later by fulfilling a concert pianist’s dream of playing in Beethoven Haus – the preserved iconic birthplace of the immortal composer. This delightful hometown of Ludwig van Beethoven is steeped in heritage, cultural history, and is also surprisingly equipped with an appealing range of restaurants, shops, and attractions.

Obsession with Reflection
When I take a moment to reflect on my time living as an expat Canadian in the Netherlands, it’s been incredible to consider how many valuable lessons I’ve learned. At first,

It’s a new dawn. It’s a new day. It’s a new year!
The change of calendars and bubbling of champagne signifies the beginning of a new year with renewed energy and optimism and provides an ideal time to both reflect on memorable moments recently gone by and look forward to what lies ahead. 2016, though, was a tough year with the passing of so many great artists and individuals who will no doubt continue inspire us well beyond their years who provided many positive and exciting occasions.