Eve Millington: Living in the Key of Joy
by Rebecca Marchand
For VS supporter Eve Millington, music isn’t just something she listens to, it’s something to live by. “Music is like another kind of blood for me,” she says evoking the same vitality that fills a concert hall when the orchestra takes its first breath before a note is played.
“I grew up in a house full of music,” she says. “My mom told me I came into the world with a Chopin piano étude playing in the background.”
Born in Germany and raised in a family that treasured music, Eve’s earliest memories are soundtracked by classical masterpieces spinning on Deutsche Grammophon records. Her father, a former choirboy with a rich voice, often filled the house with the sound of Italian opera, while the family stereo was a centerpiece of their home life after moving to Canada.
Eve and her brother both took up instruments in middle school, though, as she laughingly admits, her enthusiasm outpaced her practice routine. “I brought my clarinet home but never opened the case,” she recalls with a grin. “The optics looked good to the teacher.” Her brother, meanwhile, kept on practicing and went on to become a professional musician.
A Life Enriched by Music
That early experience gave Eve a lasting appreciation for the dedication and perseverance of musicians. “I really admired the hard work and discipline of my brother, and later my husband and other friends, who chose music as a career. I realized from a young age that musicians needed all the help they could get. It’s a challenging path, even in the best of times.”
For Eve, the experience of living close to professional musicians has shaped a deep understanding of the craft behind the art. “When you’ve watched someone work for years to master their instrument, you realize the sheer hard work that’s required to achieve excellence,” she says. “That’s why I believe so strongly in music education, not only for those who become musicians, but for everyone. We’re educating listeners as much as future performers.”
It’s a philosophy that has guided Eve and her husband Chris, in their philanthropy for decades. Supporting the Victoria Symphony is a natural extension of their belief that great music enriches both individual lives and the broader community. “To me, an investment in the Symphony is an investment in the future, not just of musicians, but of the quality of life in our city,” Eve tells us.
Everything Music Can Be
Out of the countless VS performances she’s attended over the years, Eve says there’s a few that stand out as moments of pure transcendence. One in particular, still gives her chills: “When Terence Tam performed The Lark Ascending at the Bay Street Armoury. That was unforgettable. The piece, the setting, the performance… it captured the essence of everything music can be. It was just so emotional — chills and tears all at once.”
But she’s equally enthusiastic about VS’s willingness to take risks and explore new musical territory. “I really appreciate how contemporary composers are being introduced alongside traditional works. It’s a great way to get a taste of something new. I used to think some of those younger composers were writing ‘weird stuff,’” she laughs, “but what I’ve heard is fantastic, fresh and full of energy. It’s really cool.”
That openness to the new is one of the reasons Eve feels so proud of what VS has become. “When we first came to Victoria, it was a completely different orchestra,” she reflects. “With each new Music Director, from Peter McCoppin to Tania Miller and now to Christian Kluxen, the level of musicianship just keeps rising. The last few years, especially, have been extraordinary. I truly believe our Symphony could hold its own with any orchestra of comparable size in the world.”
She pauses, then adds warmly, “It’s not something you can take for granted. To hear that calibre of performance in our city is a real gift.”
A Symphony for Everyone
Eve sees VS’s growing sense of accessibility and innovation as vital to its success. “I love that the Symphony is always pushing boundaries,” she says. “They’re finding new ways to reach people — different venues, collaborations, even performing Daft Punk at Rifflandia! I thought that was brilliant. You can’t leave any stone unturned anymore in live performance, and [VS] gets that.”
What stands out to her, though, is the evolution of the Victoria Symphony: more open, more personable, and more in tune with today’s audiences. “Some people still think of classical music as elitist, but Matt [White] and Christian [Kluxen] have done so much to make it more approachable while maintaining excellence. It’s smart and it’s genuine: they’re walking the talk. It really is Victoria’s Symphony.”
Giving Back, Full Circle
Eve’s connection to VS is deeply personal; not only as an audience member, but also as someone committed to carrying forward the legacy of those who came before. She and her husband Chris set up the Lou Williamson Scholarship Fund in memory of Lou Williamson, who was an auxiliary percussionist with the Victoria Symphony for nearly twenty years. This makes their support feel like a continuation of his legacy. “It’s a full circle thing to be able to give back on Lou’s behalf,” she says.
The fund helps young Canadian musicians pursue their dreams, a tribute that extends Lou’s lifelong commitment to music education and performance.
“In one way or another,” Eve reflects, “it all leads back to supporting future musicians and more appreciative audiences. It’s a win-win and we feel privileged to be able to do what we’re doing. I think Lou would be pleased.”
The Heartbeat of a City
Eve sees the Symphony as an essential part of Victoria’s cultural pulse. “The Victoria Symphony is a major contributor to the city,” she says. “We can’t take that for granted, especially in a climate of funding cuts and uncertainty. We should be grateful these musicians choose to live and work here — it’s something special right here in Victoria. They deserve our support.”
To her, music is woven through every human experience. “Can you imagine a wedding, a film, or a celebration without music?” she asks. “It elevates joy and embraces us in moments of sorrow. It brings people together like nothing else.”
That’s why Eve continues to support VS because it brings this joy to our community. “Music is core to our humanity,” she says with a smile. “And the Victoria Symphony keeps that heartbeat strong.”
Rebecca, what a great newsletter — congratulations, I think the content was excellent, professional, informative and well written :).
loved it!
So well done,
Lorraine