Start Monday with the Musicale in Duncan

Pianist Sarah Hagen is back with the third in her Morning Musicale series at the Cowichan Theatre Monday, Jan. 12 starting at 10:30 am.

These shows offer a special format for classical music lovers.

With onstage seating, pre-concert chats and a table of treats, this morning series is proving popular with concertgoers.

Hagen is an interesting host and attracts world-class guest musicians, presenting them in an intimate, personal musical experience.

Her own skills are also exceptional and she likes to push at the edges of the envelope by including photography, dance and theatre with music.

She is the artistic director for Pro’ject Sound, a performance project involving live piano with large-scale projected images.

Hagen also curates, hosts, and performs widely around B.C. An avid collaborator, Hagen has performed with cellist Ariel Barnes, violinist Martin Chalifour, tenor Benjamin Butterfield, Trio Accord, Ballet Victoria and the Emily Carr String Quartet, among many others, and has appeared as soloist with various orchestras.

As a first prize winner in the 2013 Bradshaw Buono International Piano Competition, she was awarded the opportunity to perform solo at New York City’s Carnegie Hall in May 2013.

Hagen’s solo program in January is entitled Love in Every Bite and will feature the music of Johannes Brahms. She will walk the audience through the life of Brahms through his short piano pieces.

"I have always felt Brahms’s music was so full of love, so hence the title," the pianist says.

The remaining two concerts in her season are Monday, March 2, The Bergmann Piano Duo and Monday, April 13 with Benjamin Butterfield, tenor.

Tickets for these events are $22 each with Elder College members getting in for $20. Call the Cowichan Ticket Centre at 250-748-7529 to reserve.

Cowichan Valley Citizen