National Anthem – Agasha Mutesasira & Nico Rhodes
Agasha is from Uganda and has lived on the Island for 4 years. They graduated last year with a bachelor in hospitality management, outside of work and school music is their passion. Agasha started singing and writing songs from the age of 10. The type of music that interests her varies from RNB / soul, Rap and Afrobeat. Agasha feels blessed to have 3 singles released on all streaming platforms, with the most recent one called, Take Time. Her goal is to be able to perform more and is excited to share the stage with everyone tonight.
Nico Rhodes is a musician who inhabits all styles, genres, and eras of music. As a music director, Nico has conducted over 40 professional musicals across Canada. As an arranger and orchestrator Nico has scored for choir, big band, symphony orchestra, and more. An active performer, Nico collaborates with Juno award winner Rick Scott, Joelle Rabu, Ken Lavigne, and others. A composer as well, Nico has over 400 original works, many written for his fantasy music commission business Off the Beaten Path.
Having started music at the age of 4, Nico’s formative years were spent learning from his mother Joelle Rabu, local musicians and attending shows with his late father Dusty Rhodes. Many of these moments took place within these very walls. Nico sang at the opening of the theatre in his mom’s choir, watched shows from backstage with his father, who would be working crew. Tagged along with the house technicians to learn the ins and outs of sound, stage, and lights. All his performances (as pianist, arranger, and singer) with the VIS started here, and just last year Nico premiered several new choral arrangements and music directed the band for Nanaimo Sings! As well, he premiered his first ever duo piano show, Piano Heist, to a packed Port Theatre crowd. He is so grateful to this theatre, and to all those who continue to make it thrive.