Cosmic Viola - The Next Video Series.

Building off the success of the Violalicks project, Cosmic Viola presents 10 new full-length music videos, featuring the timeless music of John Williams and other film-scoring greats. Our arrangements will showcase the full range and timbral colour of the viola as we continue to exhibit this dark-horse instrument. With studio costs offset by Creative BC with a $10,000  grant, your contributions through indiegogo will fund the cinematic transformation of each track on the album. A unique range of perks, from personally signed merchandise, to mentorships on music videos, to commissioned themes and videos, and a producer's credit - our indiegogo fund will cover a two-day video production stint at the Star Theatre, Vancouver's magnificent planetarium. With stars, spaceships and planets whirling behind us, our series will showcase sci-film music with passion and a classical edge. Themes like Princess Leia, Blade Runner, Star Trek and more will feature VPOPS pianist Kitty Lam, and percussionist Jarrett Plett, and myself on viola. Additionally, the series will help sell our show to other Canadian planetariums, for a potential cross-country tour!  

What We Need & What You Get

• What We Need! We only need $5000 to make it all happen. With Creative BC covering studio costs, funds from indiegogo will entirely cover 10 full length music videos. We'll spend $2000 on renting the planetarium, $2000 on the videographer, our amazing Darko Sikman, and $500 on the amazing photography of Dennis Tsang, and $500 marketing / graphic design by the industrious Katie Alexander. 
• What You Get! Your donation both funds this exciting video series AND gets you a perk! With all my producing experience from 52 music videos last year, I'm excited to offer a short mentorship course to help you produce your OWN music video. Other perks include a DVD of the series, a signed CD of the album, the chance to order a special commission, and a producer's credit!   
• Our Solemn Vow. As with 2023's indiegogo campaign, our original $5000 only covered a fraction of the total cost to make the Violalicks series as I had planned to pay for the rest myself. Similarly with this project, my team and the planetarium await eagerly to proceed, no matter the outcome of this fundraiser. I'm prepared to bite the bullet, but with your help I'll be greatly freed up to put my creative energies to the max. 

The Impact

• There is a great lack of high quality viola performances of popular music online, especially film music. This continued contribution of viola works therefore aims to inspire generations of viola players with golden age Hollywood film music. On violin, we've had such stars as Vanessa Mae, Lindsay Sterling and David Garrett, and on cello we've had Two Cellos and the Piano Guys but to name a few. But who's out there rocking on viola? We have yet to find our own champion in the realm of pop music for this equally powerful instrument... Unless I can help it.
• Our last series, violalicks 2024, generated over 100k views on youtube, and 300k streams on spotify, and millions of hits across all platforms. I went on CBC to discuss the history of the viola and our Violalicks project, and half a dozen articles covered our series. I have no doubt therefore, especially with Creative BC's backing that this next series will take the viola even further. 
• So add your voice, and let's get the viola out there by playing first-time arrangements of a wide range of celebrated film music inside of one BC's most inspiring theatres beneath a dome of stars. 

If you can't afford a perk, you can help in other ways, by sharing the campaign with a  few friends via email, or through social media :)