A Robbie Burns Celebration

Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 1:00 pm ~ SOLD OUT!

Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 7:00 pm ~ SOLD OUT!

$35 per ticket

The 42nd and 43rd concerts in the York Place Musical Salon.

About the Event

Join us for an unforgettable afternoon celebrating the life, legacy, and enduring influence of Robert Burns, the poet whose words have resonated across centuries and continents since his birth in 1759.

Baritone Michael MacKinnon, mezzo-soprano Shanté Van Horlick, and pianist Scott Knight bring Burns' Scotland to life through stirring traditional songs and spirited modern works inspired by the bard himself. From timeless Scottish melodies to contemporary classics, this vibrant program honors the poet who gave voice to love, nature, equality, and the human spirit.

Discover why Burns Night remains one of the world's most cherished cultural celebrations, observed with passion all around the world. And maybe, just maybe, a wee dram of Scotch will be involved?

Read the concert program (PDF)

Info & FAQ: About Tickets and the Waiting List 

We gratefully acknowledge a generous donation from an anonymous patron who has sponsored the York Place Musical Salon since 2024. This support helps further our goal of presenting performances of the highest caliber. Thank you.

---

About the Musicians

Baritone Michael MacKinnon began his operatic journey in 2006. He joined the Vancouver Opera chorus in 2008 and, the following year, toured with Vancouver Opera in Schools for the world premiere of Veda Hille’s Jack Pine. His training includes programs at Opera Nuova (Edmonton), the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and the Music Academy of the West (Santa Barbara). A two‑time winner of the Western Canada division of the Metropolitan Opera competition, Michael has performed principal roles with companies such as City Opera Vancouver, Burnaby Lyric Opera, Opera Nanaimo, Vancouver Island Opera, and Vancouver Opera. His international credits include performances with the Young Opera Company (Freiburg), Landestheater Detmold, Ticino Music Festival (Lugano/Locarno), The Opera Factory (Freiburg), Operafabriken (Malmö/Copenhagen), Opera Bohemia (Glasgow), and the Edinburgh International Festival. Since relocating to Vancouver Island in 2020, Michael has been a frequent soloist in local choral and orchestral concerts. He currently teaches English at Nanaimo District Secondary School and is delighted to be building new friendships within the island’s vibrant musical community.

Mezzo-soprano Shanté Van Horlick has appeared on stages across the BC Lower Mainland, United States, Czech Republic, and Spain. A 2016 graduate of the UBC Opera Program, she has since built a vibrant career as both a professional opera singer and a dedicated voice teacher. Her performance credits include engagements with the Vancouver Opera Company, Heroic Opera, Burnaby Lyric Opera, and Opera Mariposa. Since 2015, Shanté has taught voice at conservatories and music schools, working with students of all ages and musical backgrounds. She has also led numerous summer voice camps and musical theatre programs, nurturing young performers and fostering a love of singing in her community. After relocating to Nanaimo in 2020, Shanté has continued to be an active presence in the island’s musical life. She has appeared as a soloist with the Oceanside Concert Choir in Handel’s Messiah and performed with the Strathcona Symphony Orchestra. Shanté is passionate about creating opportunities to showcase opera and beautiful singing in Nanaimo, and she is committed to strengthening connections within the island’s vibrant music community.

Pianist Scott Knight has been a professional pianist and music director for more than 30 years. His musical training includes studies at Capilano University, the University of Victoria, and the University of British Columbia, where he specialized in classical piano and collaborative performance. He spent two seasons as a vocal coach and conductor at the N.U.O.V.A. School for Advanced Studies in Opera at the University of Alberta, working with renowned artists such as Nico Castel, Michael McMahon, Carol Isaac, and Tracey Dahl. He later served as conductor and music director for Tapestry New Opera in Toronto. In Vancouver, Scott has collaborated extensively with UBC Opera, Vancouver Academy Opera, Burnaby Lyric Opera, and Vancouver Opera. Beyond the opera world, he has worked with the Vancouver Playhouse, Capilano University Theatre, Gateway Theatre, Theatre Under the Stars, and other leading arts organizations. All-time favourite musical... anything Stephen Sondheim.

Concert Gallery

Photos and video courtesy of Brent Reid