Oceanside Classical Concerts Society

Oceanside classical concerts society (occs) believes that classical music is an essential element in the cultural life of the oceanside area. Oceaside is a name adopted for a group of communities on the eastern coast of vancouver island in british columbia canada. Occs is committed to changing lives through music's extraordinary power to communicate inspire uplift and entertain. The society celebrates artistic exellence in classical music through: live performance of the world's great masterpieces; promotion of canadian artists; a series subscription model without individual ticket sales. Occs has established an annual scholarship award program to advance the education of promising young mid-island students interested in pursuing careers in any genre of music. The first scholarship was awarded in 2021. Occs offers other programs for youth including in-school concerts free tickets to concerts and mentoring opportunities. Occs is operated by volunteers. The board of directors spends approximately 700 hours per year on managing the activities of the society. Thirty-five additional volunteers assist at the concerts and during subcription renewal and fundraising campaigns. They provide 170 additional hours of volunteer time. In 2023 occs created a musical instrument repair and lending program which provides muscial instruments to children and youth so they can participate in school music programs. Instruments are donated to us repaired by professionals and distributed in association with schools in the area.