As part of Ostara’s weeklong immersive experience, join the group for a jazz jam at Woodley’s! Come ready to groove. Entry by donation.
ABOUT THE OSTARA PROJECT
Only five percent of jazz instrumentalists are women. The Ostara Project is changing that.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, this genre-bending jazz collective amplifies the voices of women in music. Events include films, workshops, jam sessions, high school outreach, and interdisciplinary performances blending visual art and sound.
Founded by award-winning musicians Jodi Proznick (bass) and Amanda Tosoff (piano), The Ostara Project brings together some of Canada’s most exceptional female jazz artists—each a bandleader, composer, and visionary in her own right. What began with a debut album in 2022 has grown into a bold movement of creativity and cultural expression.
FULL IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE SCHEDULE
PECHA KUCHA
Tue. Mar. 10th, 7:00-9:00pm
Tue. Mar. 10th, 7:00-9:00pm
Nine accomplished women from Salt Spring Island and beyond have six minutes and twenty seconds each (20 slides x 20 seconds each) to give a prepared presentation on something they’re passionate about. Celebrate International Women’s Day by celebrating the ideas, wisdom, and experience of a group of powerful local women!
Presented by ArtSpring’s RoundTable committee and hosted by Kate Nash, Program Director at The Circle Education. Entrance by donation.
ROOTS & WINGS OPEN REHEARSAL
Wed. Mar. 11th, 4:00-6:00pm
Wed. Mar. 11th, 4:00-6:00pm
ArtSpring is proud to present Roots & Wings, Ostara’s new double album and performance experience. Part of Ostara’s The Ancestors’ Project, this deeply personal program journeys through works that embody roots — ancestral connections, personal histories, and cultural legacies — and wings — bold creative risk-taking and musical freedom. Brought to life by Jodi Proznick (bass), Amanda Tosoff (piano), Claire Devlin (sax), Rachel Therrien (trumpet), Valérie Lacombe (drums), and guest vocalist Kim Zombik. Witness the creative process behind Ostara’s Roots & Wings performance at this open rehearsal!
Highlights include Tosoff’s “Dreams and Olive Trees,” inspired by Bulgarian folk traditions and featuring wordless vocals and shifting rhythmic landscapes; Shruti Ramani’s “Rajalakshmi,” a cross-cultural fusion honouring her grandmother, seamlessly combining Hindustani classical vocal phrasing with jazz improvisation; Lacombe’s “Raven Haven,” a spirited, hard-bop inspired piece echoing the energy and mystery of the ravens of Whitehorse, and many more.
Tickets: purchase.artspring.ca. $10
JAZZ JAM AT WOODLEY’S
Thu. Mar. 12th, 7:00-9:00pm
Thu. Mar. 12th, 7:00-9:00pm
A night of jazz jamming at Woodley’s! Entrance by donation.
ROOTS & WINGS DOCUMENTARY FILM NIGHT
Fri. Mar. 13th, 7:30-9:30PM
Fri. Mar. 13th, 7:30-9:30PM
At the Documentary Film Night, you’ll get behind-the-scenes insight into the making of the albums Roots and Wings and the lived experiences of women in jazz. Featuring a new short film and a 30-minute documentary, the screening shares stories of identity, equity, and resilience in the traditionally male-dominated jazz world. These films are part of Ostara’s The Ancestors’ Project.
Tickets: purchase.artspring.ca. $10 youth, $15 adults.
ROOTS & WINGS LIVE CONCERT
Sat. Mar. 14th, 7:30-9:30pm
Sat. Mar. 14th, 7:30-9:30pm
ArtSpring is proud to present Roots & Wings, Ostara’s new double album and performance experience. Part of Ostara’s The Ancestors’ Project, this deeply personal program journeys through works that embody roots — ancestral connections, personal histories, and cultural legacies — and wings — bold creative risk-taking and musical freedom. Brought to life by Jodi Proznick (bass), Amanda Tosoff (piano), Claire Devlin (sax), Rachel Therrien (trumpet), Valérie Lacombe (drums), and guest vocalist Kim Zombik.
Highlights include Tosoff’s “Dreams and Olive Trees,” inspired by Bulgarian folk traditions and featuring wordless vocals and shifting rhythmic landscapes; Shruti Ramani’s “Rajalakshmi,” a cross-cultural fusion honouring her grandmother, seamlessly combining Hindustani classical vocal phrasing with jazz improvisation; Lacombe’s “Raven Haven,” a spirited, hard-bop inspired piece echoing the energy and mystery of the ravens of Whitehorse, and many more.
Tickets: purchase.artspring.ca. $10 youth, $42 adults, $15 Theatre Angel (first-come, first serve; online purchase code THEATREANGEL)
