Salt Spring Islanders can discover the unique sound of Sophie Lukacs when her trio performs in concert on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at Salt Spring Island United Church.
A Budapest-born, Montreal-based artist of Jewish Hungarian descent, Lukacs began her musical journey with the violin and Western classical music. Inspired by her grandmother, Holocaust survivor Eva Fahidi, Lukacs’ passion for music led her to study international development and music at McGill University.
Her path took a transformative turn in Burkina Faso, where she discovered the kora, a traditional West African instrument.
Despite the kora being traditionally reserved for men of the griot caste, Lukacs pursued her passion. After a fateful encounter with kora master Malang Jobarteh in New York, she immersed herself in kora studies, eventually learning from legends like Toumani Diabaté in Paris and Bamako.
Living in Mali for seven years, Lukacs mastered the kora and began composing her music. Her debut album — Bamako — released in 2023, received critical acclaim and won the Global Roots Album of the Year at the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards.
Singing in English, French, Hungarian and Bambara, Lukacs will be joined by Laszlo Koos on bass and Noel Mpiaza on percussion.
Next Wednesday’s concert, which begins at 7:30 p.m., with doors open at 7 p.m., is presented by Caravan World Rhythms.
Tickets through caravanbc.com or at the door.