What: Dedicated to David: A Legendary Evening Honouring David Foster
When: Friday, 6 p.m.
Where: The Roundhouse Car Shop at Bayview Place, 251 Esquimalt Rd.
Tickets: $500 (available by calling 250-595-9970)
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A trip through in sa国际传媒 this week will be action-packed for David Foster, which has long been the norm when the Victoria-born producer, performer and philanthropist returns home.
Foster, 67, arrived in Vancouver on Wednesday to prepare for a business networking event at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver dubbed An Afternoon with David Foster. He will travel to Victoria to perform with friends and former bandmates at the Strathcona Hotel, the occasion being a private party Thursday marking the 75th birthday of his first wife, B.J.听Cook. On Friday, he will be the guest of honour for Dedicated to David: A Legendary Evening Honouring David Foster, at which he will receive the Canadian College of Performing Arts鈥� inaugural Legend Award.
鈥淭he night is about honouring the Canadian legend that is David Foster and his genius in terms of music,鈥� said Jackie Adamthwaite, events manager for the Victoria-based college. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 really about how he continues to support and foster young Canadian artists. It鈥檚 a lot of what we do here at CCPA.鈥�
The dinner and concert will feature Foster鈥檚 music, performed by graduates of the college. As for the honouree鈥檚 role in the proceedings, a piano will be on stage, but he is under no pressure to play it, according to organizers.
Foster joked that he has a hard time not playing when he鈥檚 before an audience, especially since organizers are having the piano (normally situated at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel) shipped across town for the event.
鈥淚鈥檇 happily do it,鈥� Foster said in a statement. 鈥淚 think that would probably be interesting for the people there. And I like playing my songs. I鈥檓 not one of these guys that says, 鈥楢h no, I don鈥檛 do that song.鈥� 鈥�
Local singers Stephanie Greaves and Ken Lavigne will also take part in the gala event, which is being held at the 105-year-old Roundhouse Car Shop at Bayview Place. Money raised will provide training for CCPA students in the performing arts at a significantly subsidized rate. The non-profit society and registered charity has seen celebrated alumni Carly Rae Jepsen, Ali Liebert, Michelle Thibodeau and Derek Baynham pass through its doors since 1998.
鈥淚t has a unique vibe, and a lot of character,鈥� Adamthwaite said of the exposed brick-and-beam building, which will be transformed into a grand room on Friday. 鈥淭he exciting challenge for us was deciding how to turn this heritage site into a venue worthy of a gala sit-down dinner and concert.鈥�
The event sold out quickly, but more seats were added to meet demand. An audience of approximately 450 people is expected to take in the event, resulting in a $200,000 boost for the college.
鈥淭he one thing that every community organization needs is money,鈥� said Mel Cooper, an honorary director of the college. 鈥淭his will give them the biggest financial return, from a fundraiser, that they鈥檝e ever had.鈥�
Foster knows a thing or two about charitable causes. The David Foster Foundation, which provides funding for Canadian families with children undergoing life-saving organ transplants, is expected to surpass $50 million in total donations by next year. While his foundation flourishes, Foster continues to earn accolades for his music: On Sept. 19, the 16-time Grammy Award winner will be honoured by the Grammy Museum and Foundation with the Architects of Sound Award in Los Angeles, for his contributions to music.
Cooper, who has been friends with the Man in Motion hitmaker for decades, knows he is passionate about giving back to young artists, having achieved so much during his career.
鈥淲hat we鈥檝e tried to do for this听event is offer the best demonstration of what the college does,鈥� Cooper said. 鈥淎nd at the end of the day, the cash register will ring听beautifully.鈥�