Octet Victoria

Meet Octet Victoria bass, Rowan McWilliams!

Victoria native Rowan McWilliams has been an active member of their home town’s musical community for over 10 years, and 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.

Sweet Nightingale concert details:
🗓️Saturday, April 18th 2026
🕣7:30PM concert
📍St. John the Divine Anglican Church, 1611 Quadra St. Victoria BC
🎟️Admission by donation

Introducing Nathan McDonald, baritone in Octet Victoria!

Nathan McDonald, is a Performer, Teacher, and Church Music Director based on the traditional territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən People (Victoria, BC). An active vocal soloist, Nathan has appeared as a soloist with orchestras and choirs across Western Canada, among them the Victoria Symphony, Okanagan Festival Singers, and the Victoria Choral Society. A long-time choral enthusiast, Nathan has sung professionally in choirs on five continents. He is a member of the Voice Faculties at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and the Canadian College of Performing Arts, and is mentored by soprano, Nancy Argenta. He is the Kantor/Director of Music at Lutheran Church of the Cross, Victoria. When he’s not making music, Nathan can often be found riding a bicycle laden with small children, beach toys, and lots of snacks.

Sweet Nightingale concert details:
🗓️Saturday, April 18th 2026
🕣7:30PM concert
📍St. John the Divine Anglican Church, 1611 Quadra St. Victoria BC
🎟️Admission by donation

Meet Oliver Dalton, tenor in the upcoming Octet Victoria concert!

Oliver is a professional choral singer, aspiring choral conductor, and law student at the University of British Columbia. He has performed with numerous ensembles, including musica intima, the Vancouver Chamber Choir, the World Youth Choir, the National Youth Choir of Canada, the Vancouver Youth Choir, Phoenix Chamber Choir, and Intertidal Choral Ensemble. He served as apprentice conductor for Phoenix Chamber Choir during its 2024–2025 season and has been a co-conductor of Knox Lab Choir since 2023. Based in Vancouver, Oliver is spending this semester in Victoria as part of an internship program with the Provincial Court of British Columbia.

Sweet Nightingale concert details:
🗓️Saturday, April 18th 2026
🕣7:30PM concert
📍St. John the Divine Anglican Church, 1611 Quadra St. Victoria BC
🎟️Admission by donation

Introducing Felix Butterfield, tenor in Octet Victoria!

Felix Butterfield is a passionate and expressive tenor active in numerous ensembles throughout Victoria. He values collaboration, artistry, and community, contributing to a rich ensemble sound while also pursuing solo opportunities. Known for his sensitive phrasing and clear diction, Felix is a versatile and agile tenor. He has a particular affinity for Renaissance and Baroque music and enjoys singing repertoire by J.S. Bach, G.F. Handel, and William Byrd. Felix’s training as a Cathedral Chorister at Wi******er Cathedral also led him to develop an appreciation for 20th century English Church Music, notably works by Howells and Stanford. Career highlights include performances as the tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah and Dixit Dominus, Bach’s B Minor Mass and Weihnachtsoratorium, and Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610. He also is featured regularly as a soloist at Christ Church Cathedral during liturgical services.

Sweet Nightingale concert details:
🗓️Saturday, April 18th 2026
🕣7:30PM concert
📍St. John the Divine Anglican Church, 1611 Quadra St. Victoria BC
🎟️Admission by donation

Meet Olivia Duffin, soprano in Octet Victoria!

Olivia Duffin’s passion for singing began at a young age as a chorister at Christ Church Cathedral Ottawa. As a chorister, Olivia had the opportunity to travel to England, Germany, France and Australia to sing services in Cathedrals including Canterbury Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Wurtzberg Cathedral, and St. Mary’s Sydney. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Classical Voice Performance from the University of Victoria, where she studied under the guidance of Anne Grimm and Susan Young. She recently completed a Master of Arts in Solo Voice Ensemble Singing at University of York, UK, under the supervision of Robert Hollingworth, founder and director of the British vocal ensemble i fagiolini. While living in York, Olivia was an alto deputy chorister at York Minster. Olivia continues her liturgical singing as a soprano choral scholar at Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria.

Sweet Nightingale concert details:
🗓️Saturday, April 18th 2026
🕣7:30PM concert
📍St. John the Divine Anglican Church, 1611 Quadra St. Victoria BC
🎟️Admission by donation

Meet Octet Victoria soprano, Gina Johnson!

Gina Johnson sings regularly as a professional chorister with many of Victoria’s premiere ensembles including Octet Victoria, Vox Humana, and St John’s Chamber Singers, and Victoria Baroque. Gina studied with Kiiri Michelsen and Nancy Argenta throughout the Diploma in Voice Performance, obtained in 2019. She appeared as a soloist with the Victoria Choral Society in 2023. Gina enjoyed teaching music at Christ Church Cathedral School’s Childcare & Junior Kindergarten centres from 2021-2024. In addition to having passion for music, Gina is a full spectrum doula and is currently in midwifery school.

Sweet Nightingale concert details:
🗓️Saturday, April 18th 2026
🕣7:30PM concert
📍St. John the Divine Anglican Church, 1611 Quadra St. Victoria BC
🎟️Admission by donation

Meet Alana Hayes, alto in upcoming Octet Victoria concert, Sweet Nightingale!

Alana Hayes is a versatile and precise performer whose repertoire ranges from baroque to avant-garde. She appears regularly as a soloist and small ensemble singer, and has performed with groups such as Victoria Baroque, the Victoria Philharmonic Choir, Pacific Baroque Festival, Sooke Philharmonic, Vox Humana, Bach on the Rock, and Capriccio. Alana is a member of the Victoria Conservatory Voice Faculty, and holds a Master’s degree in Musicology with Performance from the University of Victoria, where she studied with Anne Grimm. Her research, supervised by Dr. Maria Virginia Acuña, focussed on narrative in French art song of the late nineteenth century. She also holds a Diploma in Music from the Victoria Conservatory, where she studied with Nancy Argenta.

Sweet Nightingale concert details:
🗓️Saturday, April 18th 2026
🕣7:30PM concert
📍St. John the Divine Anglican Church, 1611 Quadra St. Victoria BC
🎟️Admission by donation

Meet Octet Victoria singers!

Introducing Char Hodgkins, founder and artistic director of Octet Victoria and alto.

Char Hodgkins has sung in many choirs in Ontario, including The Elora Festival Singers and The Ottawa Bach Choir. Since moving to Victoria in 2019, they have found their true voice through conducting choirs. Char is especially passionate about sacred choral music and enjoys their position as Assistant Director of Music at St. John the Divine Anglican Church, where they work alongside David Stratkauskas. They have also been Co-Conductor of Vox Humana Chamber Choir since 2023. When not doing music, Char tree plants and works at a coffee shop.

Sweet Nightingale concert details:
🗓️Saturday, April 18th 2026
🕣7:30PM concert
📍St. John the Divine Anglican Church, 1611 Quadra St. Victoria BC
🎟️Admission by donation

✨ Concert Reminder | Octet Victoria presents: Howells’ Requiem
Saturday, October 25, 7:30 PM (Doors 7:00 PM), St. John the Divine Anglican Church | 1611 Quadra Street, Victoria, Free Admission | Donations Encouraged

About the conductors:

Char Hodgkins has sung in many choirs in Ontario, including The Elora Festival Singers and The Ottawa Bach Choir. Since moving to Victoria in 2019, they have found their true voice through conducting choirs. Char is the founder and artistic director of Octet Victoria, the only fully professional vocal ensemble based in Victoria, BC. Char is especially passionate about sacred choral music and enjoys their position as Assistant Director of Music at St. John the Divine Anglican Church, where they work alongside David Stratkauskas. They have also been Co-Conductor of Vox Humana Chamber Choir since 2023. When not doing music, Char tree plants and works at a coffee shop.

David Stratkauskas has been active as a conductor, organist, pianist, and teacher in Vancouver, London (UK), and Victoria. He is currently Artistic Director of the Victoria Children’s Choir and Vox Humana Chamber Choir, and Music Director at St John the Divine Anglican Church. David has directed the St John’s Chamber Singers and the Victoria Baroque Players in numerous performances of great Baroque works, including several of Bach’s cantatas and motets, Handel’s Dixit Dominus, Durufle’s Requiem, and Bach’s John Passion. He has also worked with the Victoria Children’s Choir since 2011.

About your donations:
A portion of the door donations from our solo concerts always go to local Indigenous organizations such as Raven Trust Foundation and the Victoria Native Friendship Centre. We will be donating 50% of the proceeds from Howells’ Requiem to these wonderful above organizations. Octet Victoria is fully funded by founder & artistic director Char Hodgkins, who is passionate about creating art in their own way! We are not a registered charity or non-profit organization, and we are not a recipient of any grants. Thank you for your support! It goes toward both sustaining local music and supporting nearby Indigenous community resources!

A little taste of 'Locus Iste' by Anton Bruckner, featured in our upcoming concert. Come enjoy the rest of the programme next Saturday night!

FIRE SALMER | MARCH 15 | 7:30

https://events.downtownvictoria.ca/event/octet-victoria-fire-salmer/

One of the biggest differences between vocal and instrumental music is the inclusion of words, and the variety that different languages bring to music! We are excited to share the beautiful Scandinavian and Finnish sounds that bring life and meaning to the notes on the page. Join us for our upcoming concert!

FIRE SALMER | MARCH 15 | 7:30 PM

https://events.downtownvictoria.ca/event/octet-victoria-fire-salmer/