Ashley
Wey
SIDNEY, BC — June 21, 2026 — Lighthouse Community Choir is delighted to present Shed a Little Light, an uplifting afternoon of music on Sunday, June 21 at 3:30 PM at Saint Paul’s United Church in Sidney, British Columbia.
The concert will feature the voices of Lighthouse Community Choir alongside two distinguished guest artists with deep roots in the community: Diane Pancel and Sunny Shams.
Born and raised in Sidney, Diane Pancel has enjoyed an accomplished career as a vocalist, songwriter, recording artist, and performer. Known for her extraordinary vocal range and captivating stage presence, she has performed across North America and internationally, collaborating with renowned artists and appearing with professional symphonies and productions throughout her career.
Also born and raised in Sidney, Sunny Shams has established himself as one of Canada’s celebrated tenor voices. From his beginnings as a jazz musician to a successful career in opera and classical performance, Sunny has appeared with leading opera companies, orchestras, and musical organizations across the country.
Their participation in this concert is particularly meaningful, as both artists share lifelong connections to the Sidney community and to Lighthouse Community Choir Artistic Director Ashley Wey. Ashley and Sunny attended the same elementary school and were inspired by many of the same teachers, while Sunny and Diane are both graduates of Parkland Secondary School. Over the years, Ashley, Diane, and Sunny have collaborated on numerous musical projects and performances, strengthening friendships rooted in a shared hometown and a shared love of music.
Together, these three artists represent generations of musical excellence emerging from Sidney. Their stories reflect the power of community, mentorship, and the arts to connect people across time and experience.
The title Shed a Little Light was chosen not only because it is one of the featured songs in the concert, but because it beautifully reflects the mission of Lighthouse Community Choir itself. The choir strives to be a source of light within the community—bringing people together through music, fostering connection, and spreading joy, hope, and encouragement through song.
The concert program will also continue one of Lighthouse Community Choir’s cherished traditions: celebrating Sidney’s enduring connection to the sea. As part of the choir’s “Seaside Sidney” theme, the ensemble is committed to including at least one ocean-inspired selection in every season’s repertoire. This year, the choir is especially proud to present Northwest Passage, the iconic Canadian folk song written by Stan Rogers. Widely regarded as one of Canada’s unofficial anthems, the song reflects on the historic search for a sea route through Canada’s Arctic while exploring themes of perseverance, discovery, identity, and belonging. Deeply rooted in the Canadian landscape and spirit, Northwest Passage holds special meaning for several members of the choir and serves as a powerful tribute to our nation’s maritime heritage and the profound connection between people, place, and the sea.
“Shed a Little Light is more than a concert,” says Artistic Director Ashley Wey. “It’s a celebration of community, friendship, and the remarkable talent that has grown right here in Sidney. Diane, Sunny, and I share a history that stretches back decades, and it is a joy to bring that story to the stage with Lighthouse Community Choir. Music has a unique ability to bring light into people’s lives, and that is at the heart of what we hope to share with our audience.”
Audiences can look forward to an inspiring program of beloved songs, heartfelt performances, sea-inspired melodies, and musical moments that celebrate hope, connection, and the joy of singing together.
Concert Details
Shed a Little Light
Sunday, June 21, 2026
3:30 PM
Saint Paul’s United Church, 2410 Malaview Ave.
Sidney, British Columbia
For tickets:
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Date: Sunday, June 21 (Father’s Day)
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Time: 3:30 PM (note the earlier start), Doors @ 3:00 PM
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Where: St. Paul's United Church, 2410 Malaview Ave, Sidney, B.C
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Tickets: $20 (includes optional Father’s Day BBQ reception after the one hour concert)
About Lighthouse Community Choir
Lighthouse Community Choir is a welcoming, non-auditioned community choir based in Sidney, British Columbia. Bringing together singers of all backgrounds and experience levels, the choir is dedicated to building community, fostering connection, and sharing the joy of music through inspiring performances and meaningful musical experiences.
The ashley wey trio story
Ashley Wey is a multi award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter and pianist. She has worked with Canadian Idol winner Eva Avila, Juno Award-winners Brandi Distrehaft, Mae Moore, The Parachute Club and has toured on cruise ships around the world with four-time Grammy Award winner, Manny Kellough. With three critically acclaimed self-produced albums to her credit, Wey is releasing her first album of entirely original music, Hummingbird – a genre-bending project melding alternative folk, pop, and jazz on July 7, 2021.
Ashley lights up the stage with her bright smile, charming charisma, and magnificent sounds that open minds and reach hearts. Pianist, composer and singer Ashley Wey is a multi-faceted artist, who is highly regarded for both her playing and her writing as well as how she seamlessly crosses over from indie pop to D&B, hip-hop and jazz.
Ashley Wey met her bassist Louis Rudner while working on the high seas. They traveled the world together performing on cruise ships for three years before getting married and making Victoria their home together.
Louis Rudner is a diverse musician who has studied personally with many bass greats including Rodney Whitaker, Victor Wooten, Oteil Burbridge, and Paul Keller. Louis is happy to relocate to Victoria and has been welcomed by many high caliber musicians on the west coast.
Louis Rudner and drummer Nicholas Bracewell met a decade ago in Michigan while completing their masters degrees at Michigan State University. Nicolas Bracewell has performed with award winning greats such as Etienne Charles, Rodney Whitaker, Randy Napoleon, Gabriel Mark Hasslebach, Maureen Choi, and many more.
Once Nicholas Bracewell moved to the west coast the Ashley Wey trio began to breathe and embody the energy it was intended to have. Bracewell can authentically blend the breadth and depth of the sounds and energy they have been envisioning.
Anchored by audience interaction, diverse musicality, and candid authenticity, the Ashley Wey Trio has become beloved to fans around the world whenever they can be seen in performance. And while Ashley continues to earn high honours in the Jazz world, her unique genre-bending sound is what sets her apart as she masterfully mixes jazz and pop, bringing virtuosity and unpredictability to songs that are concise and catchy.
