Upcoming Events
Experience the joy of community singing at an upcoming workshop, song circle, or participatory concert
Interested in summer singing?
I’m gathering input from the singing community about possible summer offerings in Nanaimo and Parksville (indoors and out) and I'd love your to hear from you. Please share your timing preferences here:
Photo by Voi Check (with my collaborator April Laurie)
Summer Solstice Song Circle
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Let's raise our voices in celebration of light in a joyful, heart-opening gathering to honour the longest day of the year. All voices are welcome and belong.
Learn simple, uplifting chants and short songs about light and all that blooms, with layers of harmony and rhythm. I teach by call & echo, with room for creativity and movement. Percussion and vocal play by April Laurie.
At Dharti Mata Centre, a beautiful, community-oriented, sacred earthen space just south of Nanaimo.
4pm - doors open, tea/social, possible swimming
5-7 pm - Song circle (with tea break) $25-45
7pm+: Three-course Indian dinner and social, swim and campfire (weather permitting). $25 (optional)
See details and register below
(space is limited ; pre-registration required).
Big Sing with Humble Harmony
Saturday June 27, 2026
Huddlestone Park, Lantzville
Raise and weave your voice in community and sing songs celebrating the earth and our connection to it. All voices are welcome and belong, regardless of singing experience.
Huddlestone Park, Huddlestone Road, Lantzville
Song Circle: 11 am Optional Potluck/Picnic: 12:30pm
Followed by a "round robin" - anyone can share a song
Suggested Donation $10-20
Instead of a concert, we celebrate the end of each season of my Humble Harmony community singing group with a BIG SING, where folks from my three groups in Nanaimo and Parksville gather to share the songs we’ve been learning, and invite the community in to sing along with us! These uplifting songs are easy to learn by ear, with exciting layers of harmony and rhythm. While this is a participatory event, listeners are welcome too.
To see our song list and RSVP, click below.
Video clip from our March Big Sing in Lantzville:
SAVE THE DATES:
Summer Song Circles at Kin Hut, Nanaimo
Kin Hut is located on Departure Bay Beach and is a beautifully resonant space to sing, with a park right outside! These are informal drop-in community singing events and all voices are welcome. Each event will have a different theme (e.g. peace, hope, rivers, etc.). April Laurie will add her magic with vocal play and percussion! Please bring a mug for ginger-lemon tea.
Save the dates (more details to come):
Sunday July 5, 2 - 4pm - Song Circle
Tuesday July 14, 7 - 9pm - Full Moon Song Circle
Sunday, July 26, 3:15 - 6:15pm - Song Circle with Sylvia and Sound Sculpting with April Laurie
Sunday August 16, 2 - 4pm - Song Circle
Sunday, August 23, 2 - 5pm - Song Circle with Sylvia and Sound Sculpting with April Laurie
Sunday August 30, 2 - 4pm - Song Circle
To stay in the loop, be sure to join my newsletter list below
Photo by VoiCheck
SAVE THE DATE: Sept. 11-13
A weekend of community singing
Living Forest Oceanside Campground, Nanaimo.
Three glorious days of community singing! Explore harmony, rhythm, creativity, and movement. Sing for joy, connection, peace, hope, healing, and the earth.
All voices are needed and belong.
Led by Sylvia and special guest songleaders (all from the islands):
Cathy Baker and Dick Jackson, co-directors of Victoria's legendary "Gettin' Higher Choir"
Leah Hokanson (Gabriola Island)
Michael Geselbrecht (Nanaimo)
Bernhard Spalteholz (Victoria)
April Laurie (Nanaimo)
Dave Ashwell (Courtenay)
others to be confirmed...
Details and registration to come.
50 people max (must register for the whole weekend).
I have reserved 25 camping spots.
Please join my newsletter at the bottom of this page, to stay informed.
Living Forest Oceanside Campground is a beautiful spot on the south end of Nanaimo, with many places to sing: both sheltered and on the waterfront!
PAST EVENTS
OPEN HOUSE WEEK at Humble Harmony
May 18 - 21 (Nanaimo & Parksville)
Humble Harmony is part of a growing movement of community singing... reclaiming our human birthright to sing together for pure joy. We are a non-audition, non-performing group, oriented around experience, fun, depth, and connection. No experience is needed. All voices are welcome.
Week one of our "Late Spring" season is open for drop-in (by donation) - come see if you love it!
Monday May 18, 2pm at St. Andrews United Church, NANAIMO
Tuesday May 19, 7pm at Rotary Field House, NANAIMO (with April Laurie's vocal play and percussion)
Thursday May 21, 3:30pm at McMillan Arts Centre, PARKSVILLE (this timing may change in future; let me know your preference here)
Check out our song list by clicking below:
Spring Singing Circle at Kind Yoga
Sunday, May 17, 3pm (Nanaimo)
Chant, hum, tone, and let your voice rise and weave in community! Gather with others for this joyful, inclusive song circle celebrating the rejuvenation of nature and of human connection this spring. Sing harmony-rich chants and songs from the community singing movement led by Sylvia Humble, and a sprinkling of Kirtan led by April Laurie.
Singing relieves stress, strengthens the heart and lungs, enhances mood, and creates social cohesion and unity. All songs are taught in the oral tradition of call and response, incorporating opportunities for creativity and movement.
No experience is necessary; all voices are welcome and belong.
Space is limited; please pre-register through Kind Yoga:
Photo by VoiCheck
Outdoor New Moon Song Circle
Saturday, May 16, 4pm (Parksville)
Where? Parksville Community Park Picnic Shelter (near bandstand)
Why?
The new moon symbolizes beginnings, renewal, and planting seeds for what we wish to grow in our lives and in the world. Let’s raise our voices and spirits together and make some joyful sounds!
What?
Learn easy, uplifting chants and short songs about hope, renewal and the balance of light and dark, with layers of harmony and rhythm. All songs are taught by call & response in the oral tradition, with opportunity for creativity and movement. We will sing mostly acapella, with some ukulele and hand drum to spice it up.
Who? All voices are welcome regardless of experience, age or gender. This is community singing; it’s about joy and connection rather than talent or perfection.
Cost? By donation.
No RSVP necessary - the more the merrier!
Please dress for the weather and bring water or a hot drink to stay warm and hydrated.
Photo by Bernd 📷 Dittrich on Unsplash
Nanaimo Parks & Rec: Community Singing. Saturday, May 17, 11am
Experience the joy and connection of singing in harmony imperfectly! Sing uplifting songs of peace, hope and unity and world music taught by call-and-response in the oral tradition with layers of harmonies that are easy to learn by ear without sheet music. Creativity and movement are encouraged, and all voices are welcome regardless of experience. Sylvia Humble belongs to the Ubuntu Choirs Network which believes singing is a universal human birthright. (Please register via links below or call 250-756-5200)
Sat, May 16 | 11 am-12:30 pm | $20/1 | 162867
Sat, Jun 13 | 11 am-12:30 pm | $20/1 | 162869
Sat, Jul 18 | 11 am-12:30 pm | $20/1 | 162870
Rotary Field House
Big Sing with Humble Harmony
Saturday May 9, 2026
Oliver Woods Rec Center, Nanaimo
Raise and weave your voice in community and sing songs of peace, love and freedom with us! All voices are welcome and belong, regardless of singing experience.
Oliver Woods Rec Centre
Song Circle: 5:15 p.m. Optional Potluck: 6:45pm
Suggested Donation $10-20
Instead of a concert, we celebrate the end of each season of my Humble Harmony community singing group with a BIG SING, where folks from my three groups in Nanaimo and Parksville gather to share the songs we’ve been learning (including "One Love" by Bob Marley and "Shosholoza" from South Africa), and invite the community in to sing along with us! These uplifting songs are easy to learn by ear, with exciting layers of harmony and rhythm. While this is a participatory event, listeners are welcome too.
Click below to see our song list and more details:
Video clip from our March Big Sing in Lantzville:
Singing with Fiddelium!
Friday, May 8, 2026, 7pm
Port Theatre, Nanaimo
I am incredibly honoured to be the special guest and invite the audience to sing along at this SIXTH Port Theatre performance featuring Canadian Folk Music Award winners Fiddelium!
Fiddelium has represented Nanaimo on the national stage for ten years, garnering two CFMA nominations as well as the award for Young Performer of the Year (2023). This youth string ensemble plays intricate and thrilling arrangements of traditional and contemporary folk music from around the world. Fiddelium will absolutely shatter your expectations with their high-calibre playing and professional stage presence.
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