PREECEVILLE - The Parkland Music Festival committee is gearing up for the annual Festival and members are excited to announce its two adjudicators who were selected.
“Our festival committee received information this week about the two adjudicators who will be adjudicating the Parkland and District Music Festival to be held in Preeceville and Sturgis April 15 to 18,” stated a release from the committee.
“We are pleased to introduce Anna Marie Bekolay who will adjudicate piano, vocal, musical theatre and violin, and Jennifer Tenford who will adjudicate the band, instrumental and choir portion of festival. We are excited to welcome these two musicians who have a wide variety of musical experience to share their expertise with the students who will be participating in our festival.
“The entry deadline for our festival is Feb. 16 with forms and entry information on the SMFA website under the District tab- Parkland or by calling Carla Lewis 306-547-2887. We hope to provide a rich educational experience and enjoyable atmosphere as we foster the arts in our community.
“Anna Marie Bekolay is a multidisciplinary artist who combines her passion for all the Arts (visual, dance, drama, design, and most especially music) to create a new character and evocative music for every project she participates in,” continued the release.
“She is a collaborative musician and holds a Bachelor’s of Music Education degree, a Grade 10 Violin RCM, and an Associate diploma in Voice Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto for which she won a gold medal for the highest mark in Canada (2006). The pandemic put many of Anna’s performance projects on hold some indefinitely. This created the opportunity for Anna to further explore her interest in dance and in health and wellness.
“She participates regularly with ‘Dance On!’ (an improvised dance-play-movement-meditation group – an outgrowth of Aileen Hayden’s improvisational dance class. Anna currently takes other online dance classes as well: African Brazilian Dance with Newton Moraes (Newton Moraes Dance Theatre) and Modern Dance with Jackie Latendresse (Free Flow Dance Theatre Company) and she sings and dances as part of her own meditation practise which is slowly progressing toward a new concert series. In October of 2020, Anna started her official Reiki practice offering late evening distance Reiki healing sessions. Her currently active performance projects include: Back of the Bus (Celtic), The Whiskey Jerks (Klezmer/Roma (Gypsy) Folk/Prog Rock/Jazz), Mac Talla Quartet (String Quartet with vocals), and The Stephanies (Pop Trio). Anna also continues to enjoy teaching violin/fiddle at the Saskatoon Academy of Music and Voice, violin/fiddle, and recorder in her home Studio (Anna Bekolay’s Studio). One of her greatest joys is in being fully present while developing connection and communication through the sharing of music with students, band mates, and audiences alike.
“Jennifer Tenford is in her twelfth season as Assistant Principal Bassoon and Contrabassoon with the Regina Symphony Orchestra. She holds undergraduate degrees from the University of Regina and the University of British Columbia, as well as a Master of Music degree in woodwind performance and conducting from the University of North Texas. Born and raised in Regina, she began playing the flute with the Regina Lions Junior Band. Attending Campbell Collegiate, Jennifer subsequently took up the saxophone to play in the jazz band, later studying classical saxophone with Karen Finnsson at the U of R.
She joined the South Saskatchewan Youth Orchestra, first with her flute, then after beginning bassoon studies with Alan Denike, became principal bassoon. In addition to her orchestral work, she enjoys performing a variety of musical genres including saxophone quartet, big band, woodwind quintet and most of all, musicals. She has put her doubling skills to excellent use playing in the pit orchestra for over 60 musical productions so far.
“In addition to performing, Jennifer teaches applied saxophone and woodwind techniques at the University of Regina. She recently retired from a rewarding career teaching public school bands in Quesnel, B.C. and Moose Jaw,. Jennifer now lives in Regina with her husband Jim and spoiled cats Charlotte and Harvey."
