Gabriola Pops! 2025 presents
Beautiful World
The Gabriola Pops! is a fun, engaging and accessible two-week "pop-up" choir program culminating in a community performance. Organized and led by Leah Hokanson, Gabriola Pops! is an opportunity to come together in community and sing our hearts open to some of our favourite pop music. The concert also features solos, duets and trios made up of choir participants, so our community gets to hear Gabriola singers they might not be familiar with. And of course, there's plenty to sing along to. The Gabriola Pops! Choir will be joined by a four-piece top notch band called Harrison Way with Frank Sehr, guitar; Brian McMahon, bass; Phil Frisson, drums; and Leah Hokanson, keyboard and vocals (see bios below).
The inaugural pops took place in August, 2013, with a tribute to the Music of the Beatles. In 2014 we presented Joy to You and Me: A Tribute to the Music of the 70s; in July, 2015, we presented A Brief History of Soul (Gabriola-Style); and in July, 2016, we presented Happy: A Multi-era Tribute to Feeling Good (please see promo materials below). Choir attendance was consistently 40-50 participants, and the shows all took place in the (packed) Community Hall, with audiences singing along joyfully. These concerts were in collaboration with the Gabriola Chamber Ensemble.
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And now the Pops! is back, and we're thrilled to announce that Gabriola Pops! 2025 would be on the theme of Beautiful World featuring multi-genre pop songs by Marvin Gaye, John Lennon, Sly and the Family Stone, Joe Cocker, Mavis Staples, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell and others. The theme is in celebration of both the human and more-than-human communities that inhabit our beautiful and fragile planet.
We am pleased to propose the Gabriola Pops! 2025 concert for this year's Cultivate Festival, and look forward to the possibility of bringing together our diverse communities with the love of singing and pop music. Please note that the two-week choral program would include a $50-$75 (sliding scale) registration fee per participant and Leah would manage registrations and fees for this part of the program. This proposal involves the performance only.
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Thank you for considering our proposal.
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The Gabriola Pops! Director
Leah Hokanson is a choral conductor, singer/songwriter, pianist, and vocal sounding explorer based on Gabriola Island, BC. She directs the Song Keepers Women’s Choir, and leads workshops of original chants. Leah is also co-founder (with Lynette Jackson) of Sound, Belonging & Wholeness and facilitates vocal sounding circles and workshops that explore the voice as a vehicle for healing and transformation. She has recorded four albums: Facets, three chant albums, and an EP: Portals. She is a founder of Lulu Performing Arts Society, and plays keyboard and sings with Harrison Way.
The Gabriola Pops! Band: Harrison Way
no traffic ... just the jam
Bassist Brian McMahon moved to Gabriola in 2018, and has enjoyed the cycling, kayaking, and trail walking opportunities that this wonderful island offers. Connections with the Gabriola musical scene began in 2019, and Brian now finds himself very busy collaborating with many of the amazing musicians living here.
Frank Sehr is a skilled and versatile guitarist whose influences range from Classic to Blues, from Rock to Jazz, and from Latin to African music. He's had a successful career as lead guitar player and composer of diverse Rock and Blues bands in Germany and Austria, before moving to Vancouver in 2000. He has also played with Nigerian and Congolese bands. Currently Frank is involved in multiple musical projects and bands on Gabriola island.
Phil Frisson is a passionate local island drummer who has recently rekindled his love for playing after a long break. Having moved to the island, he now immerses himself in the rhythms of island life, bringing energy and soul to every beat. Whether performing at local gatherings or simply drumming by the shore, Phil’s music reflects his deep connection to the community and the island’s vibrant spirit.
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From past Pops!
Here is a promotional video of the Happy show (sound track is not the Gabriola Pops! choir):
Here are posters from past shows:
More videos: