Day one of entertainment features pipe organ, guzheng, cello, and stand-up comedy
The 2026 Dooryard Arts Festival kicked off in Woodstock on Wednesday, July 15, with a range of musical instruments and comedy acts.
Afternoon
Pipe organ instrumentalist Catherine MacNally Fraser kicked off the festivities at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, where she played in front of a full audience for two shows.
She has a degree in Organ Performance from McGill University. She is now the Music Director at Saint James Anglican Church at Armdale in Halifax. Fraser is originally from Woodstock, and said she was excited to play her pieces in her hometown.
“It feels like I never left,” she said. “I really feel that I’ve honoured the traditions of where I came from, and I feel like it was heard in the music.”
She played a mix of traditional songs, jazz, and self-written pieces. The organist says her favourites from her set are the Gregorian Chant piece by Rorate Caeli, and a composition by Melissa Dunphy, which she says pays tribute to Mother Mary.
“That piece, it would stand out,” said Fraser. “That would be my favourite. It’s not flashy, but it’s for Mary. For Mother Mary. And I feel that it honours her, and I love that.”
Evening
Connell House was full of classical music fans eager to hear what Charlotte Leung and Leandra Gold had in store for them.
Leung plays the guzheng, also called the Chinese zither. The guzheng is a traditional 21-stringed finger-picking Chinese instrument that originated over 2,500 years ago.
The guzheng player, who holds a Grade 10 certification from the Xinghai Conservatory of Music, stunned the audience with her skill in producing harmonious, sophisticated, and intense sounds.
She played four songs, each with a story, many of which dated back to historical events in China. Leung said she felt “very honoured to perform here” to share the beauty of her instrument.
Gold is a returning musician at Dooryard. She is a cellist who uses a mix of acoustic sounds and a digital loop to create an all-consuming experience.
The songwriter has over two decades of classical music training. She sings in Spanish, English, and French.
The songs she played represent her Colombian roots and the years she’s spent in Canada. One song, “Snowflake,” represents her coming to Canada, experiencing the change of seasons, and loving it.
Wednesday evening wasn’t just music; tons of laughter filled Cross Creek Brewing & Taproom, where comedians Nathan Dimitrioff, Lynn Solange, and Michael Miskimen left the audience’s cheeks aching by night’s end.
The evening was full of energy, with more to come as the festival continues until Saturday night, July 18.
For details on the schedule, check out the official Dooryard Arts Festival website, Facebook page, or Instagram.
