Taking a musical trip to Cuba – without leaving Nanaimo

When Cuban-born conductor and artistic director of Vancouver Island Symphony Cosette Justo Valdes put together the three-day Cuban Vibes: A Symphonic Festival coming up Feb. 12-14 in Nanaimo, she put her whole heart into it.
“It’s been a dream of mine to do such a thing – a festival hosted by a symphony orchestra,” she said.
Honorary director of the prestigious Orquesta Sinfonica de Oriente in Santiago, Valdes has curated a world-class festival that includes stage dancers