About

The only concert of its kind in Nova Scotia, Musique Royale is proud to present Tom Jackson’s special The Huron Carole on Sunday November 30 at 4 pm at St. John’s Anglican Church in Lunenburg. This special event is a fundraiser for the Canadian Red Cross.

The Huron Carole founder Tom Jackson, C.C., LL.D., takes the stage alongside award-winning producer, vocalist, guitarist Tom McKillip. Known for their magical harmonies and combination Dad jokes, you’ll think you’re hanging with the guys in their living room. Revel in a special guest performance from Andrea Menard, 5-time Gemini-nominated actress, 16-time music award winner, and treasured star (Edna Cranebear) in CTV’s Sullivan’s Crossing.

Proceeds from The Huron Carole will aid the Canadian Red Cross in its efforts to relieve human suffering wherever it may be found. Tom is a treasured ambassador and Member of the Order of the Red Cross.

“Nova Scotia became my second home when Sullivan’s Crossing started shooting here in 2022. It’s an honour to perform in this vibrant setting knowing music is at the forefront of community building” says Tom.

Further guests in the performance include acclaimed classical guitarist Sylvie Proulx, admired for her elegant interpretations and dedication to expanding the modern guitar repertoire; Dean Brinton, pianist and long-time cultural leader in Nova Scotia; Barbara Butler, organist and Nova Scotian arts champion, vocalists include Diana Carey and emerging singers Claude Fulton, and Clement Fulton, whose bright, expressive voices heighten the celebration; multi-instrumentalist Ian McKinnon, master of the Highland bagpipes, tin whistle, and bodhrán, adding in a vibrant Celtic spirit, and Tobias Beale, whose tin whistle and flute playing will shimmer with texture and lyricism within this festive performance.

About the Artists

Tom Jackson – 2025 marks 38 years of Tom’s storied steps into humanitarian efforts that have resulted in coordinating more than $250 million in funds and in-kind services to an abundance of charities and relief organizations including food banks, women’s shelters, mental health programs and other initiatives in the communities he visits coast to coast.

Tom McKillip (guitar, vocals) – Award-winning producer, musician, songwriter, music director and event producer Tom McKillip is well-known in Canadian music circles: Tom’s resume includes many years of touring with international songwriter and recording icon Ian Tyson (Order of Canada). For more than fifteen years, Tom has also acted as Music Director for Indigenous recording artist / humanitarian / actor Tom Jackson (Order of Canada), assisting on Jackson’s many charitable entertainment initiatives – a highlight being the annual coast-to-coast Huron Carole Christmas tour.

Andrea Menard (singer, actress, Sullivan’s Crossing) – Andrea Menard is a powerhouse Metis performer who bridges cultural and language boundaries by speaking from her heart. Her voice is lyrical, raw, and reminiscent of the jazz and blues singers of the 1940’s, yet captures the depth, humour and wisdom of her ancestors. With long-time collaborator, Robert Walsh, Andrea creates music that is relevant to her Indigenous community and inspiring to all the tribes of humanity.

Sylvie Proulx (classical guitar) – Canadian virtuoso guitarist, Sylvie Proulx, has concertized throughout Canada, the United States, and England in venues such as Buckingham Palace, the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, and the Winnipeg Centennial Concert Hall. In addition to her solo career, Ms. Proulx has collaborated in several chamber music, multi-disciplinary, and cross-genre projects notably with narrator Alan Maitland (otherwise known as “Fireside Al,” former CBC host of As It Happens), jazz vocalist Jeri Brown, contemporary dancer Gwen Noah, visual artist Malcolm Callaway, classical guitarist John Mills, and the Penderecki String Quartet.

Dean Brinton (keyboardist) – Keyboardist Dean Brinton comes from a musical background having started piano lessons at the age of 6. He played in Salvation Army brass bands as a teenager and immersed himself in rock, pop and jazz music, spending many hours learning to play by ear. After playing the piano for over 50 years, Dean’s ultimate passion is to accompany singers and listen to his favourite jazz pianists.

Barbara Butler (organ) – Barbara Butler is a chamber musician, choral conductor, organist and music educator and a well-known champion for the arts in Nova Scotia. In 1990 she was made a Fellow of the Royal Canadian College of Organists. She has earned both the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and the Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond Jubilee Medal for her service to music and the arts in Nova Scotia. She is currently Chair of the Board of Capella Regalis Men and Boys Choir, Senior Artistic Advisor of Musique Royale and Organist Emerita at St. John’s Anglican Church in Lunenburg. On December 30 2020, Barbara Butler was appointed a member (CM) of the Order of Canada for her contributions to the musical landscape of Nova Scotia, notably through her promotion of numerous concert series across the province.

Ian McKinnon (Highland bagpipes, tin whistle, bodhran) – Ian McKinnon is one of the most acclaimed Highland bagpipers of the Scottish diaspora. In an award-winning career spanning four decades, Ian has piped across the globe as an innovator in modern Celtic music, from solo to symphonic work, and as a co-founder of the Celtic Rock band, Rawlins Cross.