THE BATTLEFORDS — The 92nd annual Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival is nearing its opening day, Monday, April 15. Printed programs will be available to purchase at Sobeys. With the local Festival just around the corner, participants should note several considerations.
It is important to be on time and to hand in your music (with the first bar of each line numbered) to the session secretary before the session starts. Note that practising in festival halls during the festival week is not permitted. Any questions or concerns should be directed to committee members as the adjudicator should not be approached. No unprogrammed entries will be accepted unless the failure to include the entries was the result of a festival committee error. Participants must perform the selection printed in the program. Any program changes must be approved by the festival committee; if approved, it can be performed for adjudication only.
Certificates will be presented according to the regulations outlined in the official syllabus. If competing for a mark, the scale is A+ 90 and above, A 85 to 89 and A 80 to 84. Marks rating below 80/A will not be assigned.
The use of photocopied music (in which copyright exists) by competitors or accompanists in Saskatchewan Music Festival Association Festivals is not allowed unless accompanied by a letter of permission from the holder of the copyright.
Venues scheduled for band entries are the Kinsmen Band Hall and the North Battleford Comprehensive High School Lecture Theatre. Strings performances will take place in the Kinsmen Band Hall. Logie Hall and the Sanctuary of Third Avenue United Church are the venues for spoken word, vocal and piano classes. Band and Instrumental classes are scheduled Monday, April 15 through Friday, April 19. Strings classes are scheduled Wednesday, April 17,. Vocal classes, which include not only singing but also speech arts and musical theatre, are scheduled Monday, April 22 through Wednesday, April 24. Piano classes are scheduled Wednesday, April 24 through Saturday, April 27.
Local participants have the opportunity to be recommended for the provincial competition being held this year in Saskatoon from May 30 to June 2. District festivals are allowed two winners to the provincial finals for each Provincial Scholarship Class and each Canada West Excellence Class provided the qualifying mark (88 minimum) has been attained. To qualify, participants must enter and compete in at least two solo classes in the same discipline at their district festival. Performers must not exceed 28 years of age for Provincial Scholarship Classes or 24 years of age for Canada West Excellence Classes. Memory work is mandatory at the provincial level. The Canada West Performing Arts Festival is being held this year in Victoria from July 25 - 27.
The celebratory gala night will be at the Dekker Centre. The event is Tuesday, April 30 at 7 p.m. Performances at the gala are highlights from the festival chosen by the adjudicators. Awards and scholarships will be presented; recipients must be present. Tickets are $10 for seniors, $15 for adults, and children under 18 years of age are free. Donors, sponsors and performers are also free. Tickets for the gala will go on sale April 1 through the Dekker Centre and be available at the door that night.
To be eligible for an award or scholarship, a participant must be 19 years of age or younger and performed two or more solo selections in the same discipline. For band participants, at least one solo and one small ensemble performance is required. Participants must have lived or studied in the Battlefords and district for a minimum of six months before the festival or be studying elsewhere still supported by family living in the Battlefords and district.
For local folks wanting to show support or volunteer for the festival, there are a variety of options. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and see where your time, skills, or resources might be of most help. Correspondence can be directed by email to the Committee secretary Amy Francais amy.francais@gmail.com for more information.
“I was taught never to compromise: to never sing a cheap song. I never look down at the audience and think that they are ignorant or think that I'm more intelligent than they are. To think otherwise is totally incorrect and runs contrary to everything I was raised to believe.” - Tony Bennett (1926-2023)
