SENSORY-ACCESSIBLE CONCERTS
Serena Wu, Mat Hughes, and Gina Burgess: 2026 Road to Nova Scotia Music Week
Join us for a free Sensory-Accessible Concerts performance featuring Serena Wu, Mat Hughes, and Gina Burgess, presented as part of the 2026 Road to Nova Scotia Music Week. From bilingual pop and piano-driven songwriting to expressive violin music blending classical, global, and contemporary influences, this concert offers diverse musical styles in a relaxed setting. Audiences are invited to listen at their own pace, move as needed, and enjoy live music in a comfortable, supportive environment.
Sunday, November 8, 2026 • 2:00pm
Paul O'Regan Hall • Halifax Central Library
Accessible Venue
Free Event • Online Registration
Ticket Availability: Excellent
Co-presented with Music Nova Scotia and Halifax Public Libraries
Season Sponsor: NICE MOVES / Red Door Realty
Register
Program Information
Experience an afternoon of music and discovery as three fabulous Nova Scotia artists share their distinctive sounds and musical perspectives. Presented as part of the 2026 Road to Nova Scotia Music Week, this free Sensory-Accessible Concerts performance celebrates the creativity and diversity of our province’s music community, with performances ranging from contemporary pop and piano-driven songwriting to expressive violin music drawing on traditions from around the world.
Multilingual singer-songwriter Serena Wu blends heartfelt lyrics, upbeat rhythms, and catchy melodies in her energetic, pop-driven music. Pianist and singer-songwriter Mat Hughes combines lively melodies, humour, and thoughtful storytelling in original songs exploring everyday life and the human experience. Internationally recognized violinist and composer Gina Burgess draws on classical, Celtic, jazz, and contemporary influences to create expressive, atmospheric music rooted in her diverse musical experiences.
Each artist will present a separate set, giving audiences an opportunity to enjoy three different musical styles in one welcoming concert. Designed with accessibility and comfort in mind, the performance invites audience members to settle in, listen at their own pace, move as needed, and experience live music in a relaxed, supportive environment.
Our Partners
The Sensory-Accessible Concerts series is made possible through the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the J&W Murphy Foundation, the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, the Harrison McCain Foundation, the Craig Foundation, the Unity for Autism Foundation, the Isabel Bader Charitable Trust, the Windsor Foundation, the Cecilia Concerts Season Sponsor Nice Moves / Red Door Realty, our presenting partner Halifax Public Libraries, and funds raised by 100+ Women Who Care Halifax. We are also grateful for the gifts from the many individual donors who continue to support this important initiative.
Renseignements sur le programme
Venez vivre un après-midi de découvertes musicales en compagnie de trois artistes de la Nouvelle-Écosse qui vous feront découvrir leurs univers sonores et leurs approches musicales uniques. Présenté dans le cadre de Road to Nova Scotia Music Week 2026, ce concert gratuit de la série Sensory-Accessible Concerts célèbre la créativité et la diversité de la communauté musicale de notre province. Au programme : de la pop contemporaine, des chansons originales accompagnées au piano et des pièces expressives pour violon puisant leur inspiration dans les traditions musicales du monde entier.
L’autrice-compositrice-interprète multilingue Serena Wu propose une pop énergique où se côtoient des paroles touchantes, des rythmes entraînants et des mélodies accrocheuses. Le pianiste et auteur-compositeur-interprète Mat Hughes allie des mélodies enjouées, de l’humour et des récits empreints de sensibilité dans ses chansons originales qui explorent le quotidien et l’expérience humaine. La violoniste et compositrice de renommée internationale Gina Burgess puise dans les traditions classiques et celtiques ainsi que dans le jazz et les musiques contemporaines pour créer des œuvres expressives et évocatrices, nourries de la richesse de son parcours musical.
Chaque artiste présentera une prestation distincte, offrant au public l’occasion de découvrir trois univers musicaux différents au cours d’un même concert convivial. Conçu dans un souci d’accessibilité et de confort, ce concert invite les spectateurs à s’installer à leur aise, à écouter la musique à leur propre rythme, à bouger selon leurs besoins et à profiter de la musique en direct dans un environnement détendu, accueillant et bienveillant.
Nos partenaires
La série Sensory-Accessible Concerts est rendue possible grâce au généreux soutien du Conseil des arts du Canada, de la J&W Murphy Foundation, de la Fondation de la santé mentale de la Nouvelle-Écosse, de la Harrison McCain Foundation, de la Craig Foundation, de la Unity for Autism Foundation, de l’Isabel Bader Charitable Trust, de la Windsor Foundation, du commanditaire de saison de Cecilia Concerts, Nice Moves / Red Door Realty, de notre partenaire de présentation, les Bibliothèques publiques d’Halifax, ainsi qu’aux fonds recueillis par 100+ Women Who Care Halifax. Nous remercions également les nombreux donateurs individuels dont les généreuses contributions continuent de soutenir cette importante initiative.
Artist Biographies
Serena Wu
Serena Wu is a multilingual singer-songwriter from Halifax, Nova Scotia, whose pop-driven music blends relatable, emotional lyrics with upbeat percussion and catchy melodies.
After spending more than 50 weeks on the ARCANB (Association of Acadian Community Radio Stations of New Brunswick) radio charts and receiving continued airplay on SiriusXM, Serena performed her original song Détruit at the Fête nationale de l’Acadie in Dieppe, New Brunswick, in August 2026. The nationally televised Radio-Canada broadcast drew a live audience of 15,000, where she also provided backing vocals for performances by Lisa LeBlanc, Sylvie Boulianne and Menoncle Jason. She continues to establish herself as one of Atlantic Canada’s emerging bilingual pop artists.
Her latest release, "Tu n'as rien sur moi / Got Nothing On Me" (2026), is a bilingual double single produced, recorded, and mixed by Corey LeRue (Neon Dreams, Ria Mae, and Young Buck). Driven by infectious energy and a good dose of attitude, the song turns frustration into strength and celebrates self-confidence in the face of others’ judgment.
Serena performed with Ashley MacIsaac at the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in 2021 and again in Halifax for National Acadian Day celebrations in 2022, where she joined him on his hit "Sleepy Maggie." In 2024, she collaborated with MacIsaac on his album "Christmas Across the Atlantic," appearing on the track Christmas Without You. In November 2023, she was featured among the artists presented by Acadian Embassy at Nova Scotia Music Week in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. She has performed at The Seahorse Tavern, Emerge Festival, and as part of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic's Tuesday Night Tunes series. In 2026, she opened for Caroline Savoie during the Halifax stop of her tour and Carleton Stone as part of the Waverley Summer Concert Series. Serena will return to Nova Scotia Music Week in 2026 as a showcasing artist and nominee for the Prix de l’Acadie.
With new music on the way, Serena continues to grow as part of a new generation of Canadian Francophone pop artists.
Mat Hughes
More than singer-songwriter and piano virtuoso, Halifax-based Mat Hughes is a storyteller and performer of unique magnetism who makes each audience member feel like they’re catching up with an old friend. From playing dive bars and DIY house shows to touring across Canada and gracing hundreds of stages in his home province—most recently, the release show for his latest EP at The Stage at St. Andrews in Halifax—he’s quickly made a name for himself as one of Nova Scotia’s most original talents.
For all its foot-tapping, hi-fi instrumentation and subject matter liable to make you laugh out loud—from hot garbage to a bird flown headfirst into a window—Hughes’ third EP “South-Facing Dumpster” may at face value feel like a lighthearted pop album à la John or Joel. Upon closer listening, Mat's juxtaposition of upbeat melodies and wry, metaconscious lyricism exposes both the absurdity of our contemporary moment and the all-too-human ways we cope with it. Going for a walk to ward off the doom; sticking your head in the sand when the truth is too hard to swallow; mistaking light pollution for a sunrise. These songs teem with the platitudes of a thinly veiled nihilism, each terse line a live wire straight to the vein.
A cohesive continuation yet refined departure from his previous releases, “South-Facing Dumpster” asks what programmed motions steer us through an often-unforeseeable future; how the sun persists in its orbit despite all odds. And how on a road leading nowhere, full of streetlights illuminating nothing, we somehow find a way to enjoy the drive.
Gina Burgess
From Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia), internationally recognized artist Gina Burgess is a multi-genre violinist, composer, yoga instructor, educator, and musician wellness facilitator. A former member of the Juno nominated Iqaluit- based arctic rock band “The Jerry Cans”, a four- time ECMA award winner with the Hot Swing group “Gypsophilia”, and collaborator with numerous ensembles, Burgess is a sought after performer.
Her latest project "ISNOW" won an ECMA for fusion recording of the year in 2024. This project reflects her diverse experience by mixing classical music with Celtic folk and incorporating contemporary Inuit throat singing with elements of jazz.
Burgess’s original music has been described as ethereal, genre-bending, and filled with Spirit.
Biographies des artistes
Serena Wu
Serena Wu est une auteure-compositrice-interprète multilingue originaire de Halifax, en Nouvelle-Écosse. Son style pop mêle des paroles sincères à des mélodies entraînantes avec un univers pop qui mélange des influences soul, funk et chanson francophone contemporaine.
Après avoir passé plus de 50 semaines sur les palmarès pop/rock de l’ARCANB et bénéficié d’une diffusion soutenue sur SiriusXM, Serena a interprété sa chanson originale Détruit devant 15 000 personnes lors du spectacle de la Fête nationale de l’Acadie à Dieppe, au Nouveau-Brunswick, en août 2026. L’événement a été diffusé à l’échelle nationale sur Radio-Canada, et elle a également assuré les chœurs pour des prestations de Lisa LeBlanc, Sylvie Boulianne et Menoncle Jason.
Elle présente sa plus récente sortie, Tu n’as rien sur moi / Got Nothing On Me (2026), un single double bilingue réalisé, enregistré et mixé par Corey LeRue (Neon Dreams, Ria Mae, Young Buck). Portée par une énergie contagieuse et une bonne dose d’attitude, la chanson transforme la frustration en force et célèbre la confiance en soi face au jugement des autres.
Serena s'est produite avec Ashley MacIsaac au Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo en 2021 ainsi qu'à Halifax lors des célébrations de la Fête nationale de l'Acadie en 2022, où elle a partagé la scène avec lui pour interpréter son succès Sleepy Maggie. En 2024, elle a également collaboré à son album Christmas Across the Atlantic, en prêtant sa voix à la chanson Christmas Without You. En novembre 2023, elle faisait partie des artistes présentés par Acadian Embassy à Nova Scotia Music Week, à Yarmouth, en Nouvelle-Écosse. Elle s'est produite au Seahorse Tavern, au festival Emerge et au Maritime Museum of the Atlantic dans le cadre de la série Tuesday Night Tunes. En 2026, elle a assuré la première partie de Caroline Savoie lors de son passage au Carleton à Halifax, ainsi que de Carleton Stone dans le cadre de la Waverley Summer Concert Series. Serena sera de retour à Nova Scotia Music Week en 2026 comme artiste en vitrine et en nomination pour le Prix de l’Acadie.
Avec de nouvelles chansons en préparation, Serena poursuit son parcours, affirmant sa place dans la nouvelle génération d’artistes pop de la francophonie canadienne.
Mat Hughes
Bien plus qu’un auteur-compositeur-interprète et pianiste virtuose, Mat Hughes, établi à Halifax, est un conteur et un artiste doté d’un magnétisme singulier, qui donne à chaque spectateur l’impression de retrouver un vieil ami. Des bars modestes aux concerts organisés dans des maisons privées, en passant par des tournées partout au Canada et des centaines de prestations sur les scènes de sa province natale, il s’est rapidement imposé comme l’un des talents les plus originaux de la Nouvelle-Écosse. Plus récemment, il a présenté le spectacle de lancement de son dernier minialbum à The Stage at St. Andrew’s, à Halifax.
Avec ses arrangements instrumentaux soignés, ses rythmes entraînants et ses sujets parfois franchement hilarants, allant des ordures brûlantes à un oiseau qui fonce tête première dans une fenêtre, le troisième minialbum de Hughes, « South-Facing Dumpster », peut sembler, à première écoute, un album pop léger dans la lignée de John ou de Joel. Mais en y prêtant davantage attention, on découvre comment Mat juxtapose des mélodies enjouées à des textes ironiques et empreints d’une conscience aiguë de soi, révélant à la fois l’absurdité de notre époque et les façons profondément humaines dont nous tentons d’y faire face. Aller marcher pour chasser les idées noires, se mettre la tête dans le sable lorsque la vérité devient trop difficile à accepter ou prendre la pollution lumineuse pour un lever de soleil : ses chansons regorgent de réflexions teintées d’un nihilisme à peine voilé, chaque phrase incisive touchant directement une corde sensible.
À la fois prolongement cohérent et évolution raffinée de ses œuvres précédentes, « South-Facing Dumpster » nous invite à réfléchir aux automatismes qui guident nos vies dans un avenir souvent imprévisible, à la manière dont le soleil poursuit sa course malgré tout et à cette étrange faculté que nous avons de trouver du plaisir en chemin, même sur une route qui ne mène nulle part, bordée de lampadaires qui n’éclairent rien.
Gina Burgess
Originaire de Mi’kma’ki (Nouvelle-Écosse), Gina Burgess est une violoniste polyvalente, compositrice, professeure de yoga, pédagogue et animatrice d’ateliers sur le bien-être des musiciens, reconnue sur la scène internationale. Ancienne membre du groupe de rock arctique The Jerry Cans, établi à Iqaluit et nommé aux prix JUNO, elle a également remporté quatre prix de l’Association de la musique de la côte Est (ECMA) avec le groupe de swing Gypsophilia. Collaboratrice de nombreux ensembles, elle est une artiste très recherchée.
Son plus récent projet, « ISNOW », a remporté le prix ECMA de l’enregistrement fusion de l’année en 2024. Ce projet témoigne de la diversité de son parcours musical en mariant la musique classique aux traditions celtiques, tout en intégrant le chant de gorge inuit contemporain et des éléments de jazz.
La musique originale de Gina Burgess est décrite comme éthérée, audacieuse dans son exploration des genres musicaux et profondément empreinte de spiritualité.
y mixing classical music with Celtic folk and incorporating contemporary Inuit throat singing with elements of jazz.
Burgess’s original music has been described as ethereal, genre-bending, and filled with Spirit.
Location
Paul O'Regan Hall (Halifax Central Library)
5440 Spring Garden Road • Halifax, Nova Scotia • B3J 1E9
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register for this event?
This is a free event, and advance registration is highly recommended. Registration can be completed online on this page. Registering helps us track audience numbers and make sure we have enough space for everyone. It also allows us to send you a reminder before the event.
How will I receive my registration confirmation?
After registering, you should receive a confirmation email at the email address used during registration. Please keep this confirmation handy on your phone or bring a printed copy with you when you arrive. If you do not receive your confirmation, please check your spam or junk folder, as registration emails are sometimes blocked or filtered by email providers. You may also wish to search your inbox for “Cecilia Concerts” or your event confirmation. If you still cannot find your confirmation, please contact the Cecilia Concerts office before the event and we’ll be happy to help. Rest assured, if you registered online, your name will also be on our guest list at the door.
What time should I arrive?
Doors open 30 minutes before the event begins. We recommend arriving a little early so you have time to check in, find a seat, and get settled before the event starts.
Can I arrive late?
Latecomers are not a problem and can enter quietly after the event has begun.
What is the seating like?
Paul O’Regan Hall has unassigned theatre-style seating and these concerts also have seating on the stage floor. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you require companion seating or have an accessibility-related seating need, please let us know when you arrive.
Are children welcome?
Yes, children are very welcome and are an important part of our Sensory-Accessible Concerts audience. Families are invited to settle in, move as needed, and enjoy the concert in the way that feels most comfortable. You may wish to choose seats close to an exit in case a quick exit is needed during the concert.
Is there a chill space available?
Yes. A comfortable chill space will be available for anyone who needs a break from the concert environment.
Are headphones available?
Yes. Noise-reducing headphones are available for audience members who would like to use them.
Can I move around during the concert?
Yes. Audience members are welcome to move, stretch, change seats, or step out and return as needed.
How long is the event?
Sensory-Accessible Concerts are usually about one hour long and do not include an intermission.
What accessibility features are available?
Paul O’Regan Hall is wheelchair accessible and includes accessible washrooms, a ramp, and elevator access. Companion seating is available if required. If you have a specific accessibility question before attending, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Can I use my phone during the event?
Please silence your phone before the event begins. We ask that phones and bright screens not be used during the performance, screening, or presentation, as they can be distracting to artists, speakers, and audience members.
Can I take photos or videos?
Photos are welcome before or after the event. Unless otherwise announced, photography, audio recording, and video recording are not permitted during the event.
Is the venue scent-sensitive?
To help make the event comfortable for everyone, we ask guests to avoid wearing strong scents or fragrances when possible.
Is there parking or public transit nearby?
Yes. Paid underground parking is available at Halifax Central Library, along with nearby street parking. There is on-site parking for 50 bicycles. The venue is also located on major downtown Halifax Transit routes.
What happens if there is a storm?
If a storm may affect the event, registered attendees are encouraged to call the Cecilia Concerts office at 902-423-0143 for a recorded event update. Updates will also be posted on the Cecilia Concerts website and social media channels.
What happens if the event is changed, postponed, or cancelled?
Events are subject to change, postponement, or cancellation. If the event is changed, postponed, or cancelled, registered attendees will be contacted as soon as possible with updated information.