Bringing people together through music...

 

"Donna Bennett and Brian Finley have created a cultural cornerstone in rural Ontario. After pursuing their individual performance careers, this musical duo established Westben, a performing arts festival in the Trent Hills region. Thanks to their shared vision and leadership, the festival has brought together both professional and amateur musicians, exposed local audiences to music of the highest calibre and achieved artistic excellence. Their work has contributed to community-building in the region, and has played an important role in supporting Canadian music an emerging artists."

(read at Donna's and Brian's investiture into the Order of Canada in 2017) 

 

Cofounded in 1999 by Donna Bennett and Brian Finley, the Westben Arts Festival Theatre celebrates the power and joy of people coming together through music. Westben presented its debut season of Concerts at The Barn on July 1, 2000 in its brand new, 400-seat timber-frame custom-built theatre-barn. Since then, its activities have grown from 8 concerts over four weekends to close to 50 events offered year round. Projects include a fully professional summer music festival, community productions and life-long learning initiatives for all generations.

 

Westben's activities take place at The Barn  (6698 County Road 3o), and at the Clock Tower Cultural Centre (36 Front Street South) in Campbellford, Ontario. 

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For more on westben, vivist: www.westben.ca