“The Valhalla Fine Arts Society aspires to nurture artistic ability in people of all ages by providing programs that contribute to the cultural and economic enhancement of the local area in a supportive, non-competitive, community-based environment in which all can strive for excellence.”
Valhalla Fine Arts Mission Statement
The organization that would eventually become the Vahalla Fine Arts (VFA) Society first took shape in 1999 when Heather Huether and John Kadz launched the Valhalla Summer School of Music. In the years that followed other summer programs were added under the Society’s umbrella. Now, almost two decades later, the Society oversees numerous programs and initiatives in support of the arts in the Slocan Lake area.
Summer Camps for Children & Youth
We offer several week-long performing-arts-focused camps for children and youth: ViSTA (theatre), Peak Dance and Experience Dance, Music Explorers (introductory music for ages 4-6), VSSM (traditional instrumental music instruction for strings, piano and woodwinds), SVI (string instruction based on the Suzuki approach) and a Cello Symposium.
Summer Music Retreats for Adults
The String Orchestra Retreat for Adults (SOAR) gives adult amateur string players a place to play together and enhance their skills and experience, while soaking up the energy and inspiration of the parallel VSSM program.
Enhancement of school music programs
VFA enjoys an excellent relationship with School District 10 and benefits from a Joint Use Agreement at Lucerne School during both the summer and throughout the school year. The Society sees itself as a partner in the arts education of children in our community, and as such supports curricular and extra-curricular arts education at the school. VFA has supported an after school dance program, a school choir program, week-long percussion workshops and Music Monday performances by friends of VFA.
Financial support for performing arts experiences for children & youth
VFA runs a bursary fund to support needy families in providing their children with the opportunity to engage with the performing arts.
Local economic enhancement
VFA summer programs provide an impressive trickle-down benefit to the local economy by bringing hundreds of people into the community each summer to stay and play while supporting local businesses and services. The organization also works proactively to support local businesses, supporting the local economy by hiring, purchasing and contracting locally as much as possible and collaborating with local businesses on special events.
Equipment and instruments for the Community
VFA has made a number of capital purchases of items that are available for use by groups and individuals within the community. The Holly Wiseman Memorial C7 Yamaha grand piano which resides at Silverton Memorial Hall is the most prized of these assets. The Society also owns two sets of portable staging, upright and digital pianos, a set of solid music stands and a set of lovely musicians’ performance chairs.
Live performance events
Faculty, students and alumni put on numerous engaging and high quality performances throughout the summer. VFA also presents occasional concerts during the remainder of the year; we have featured performers like Jane Siberry, Allison Girvan and the Corazón Vocal Ensemble. VFA has also presented the Blues Boogie community live music dances since 2022.