Cara McCandless

GUITAR, BASS, VOICE, PIANO, UKULELE, SONGWRITING, RECORDING & PERFORMING

Cara grew up surrounded by music since she was in the womb. Her passion for music is as strong as her passion to share her knowledge with future musicians of all ages.

Cara has travelled from Manitoba to Vancouver Island to pursue a music career with many successes. Since landing in BC in 1997, Cara has toured across Canada as a vocalist and solo opening act with the world pop band Yellow Belly. She won Rocktoria 2000 with 100.3 The Q as a songwriter. She’s performed at many music festivals and sang with Dan Hill.

Cara went back to school in 2017 and received her certificate as an Education Assistant. Her training enables her to think of creative ways to accommodate and modify music lessons for all learners. Cara’s philosophy, as an educator, is building quality trusting relationships and meeting students where they are at to maximize success. She teaches music in Victoria to grades kindergarten to grade 5, directs a rock band, and has taught music lessons for 6 years.

Cara has released two albums, “Gypsy Sea” and “DADGAD” as well as produced her own singles available on SoundCloud. During Covid, Cara began releasing an original song every Wednesday for 82 weeks on her YouTube channel. Enough material for another 6 albums. Cara understands the music business, has dabbled in music licensing for movies and television, mixes, produces and records and understands the value of performance and stage presence.

Cara plays solo, she plays in a trio called PixElle, and a folk duo called Moonlight Talkers. Cara is one part of her family band McCandless Family Band, and plays with a 5 piece celtic punk band called The Grinning Barrett’s.