This week I introduce the final adjudicator for this year's Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival. Recapping the other professional adjudicators introduced over the last few columns in the same order as the festival's schedule; the speech arts adjudicator, Gaye-Lynn Kern, the strings adjudicator, Kim de Laforest, the piano adjudicator, Mark Turner, and the vocal adjudicator, Michele Hupaelo. Band students will close the festival with the support of band expert Peter England.
England is a former teacher with the Saskatoon Catholic Board of Education. His career included responsibility for the instrumental program at Holy Cross High School as well as head of the Department of Fine and Practical Arts. He was also actively involved in musical theatre and the instrumental jazz program.
In addition, England was active in professional development, serving on the board of the Canadian Band Association, president of the Saskatchewan Band Association, co-ordinator of the Provincial Honour Band, and a bassoonist with the Saskatoon Symphony to name just a few.
England continues to remain active in the cultural life of the province. He presently conducts the Saskatoon Community Wind Ensemble and Beginner Band and performs as a member of the Prairie Winds Woodwind Quintet. He is active as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the province and is currently the past president of SaskCulture.
He has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Saskatchewan Band Association Distinguished Band Director Award and in 2001 was named the Distinguished Band Director of the Year by the Canadian Band Association.
England is married with three adult children. His wife Shirley is a registered music teacher, teaching piano and theory, and is an examiner for RCM (Royal Conservatory of Music) examinations.
Congratulations again to this year's program cover drawing winner Alana Olsen, a Grade 5 student from Ratushniak Elementary School in Maidstone The $7 printed program will be available at Sobeys after Feb. 24. Shortly before that date keep your eyes open around town for posters summarizing the festival schedule's dates, disciplines, times and locations. Speech arts will begin the festival running from March 7 to 9. String sessions will be held for one day on March 9. Piano runs for three days from March 10 to 12, followed by five days of voice from March 13 to 17. Band entries will wind up events from March 20 and 21. The celebratory gala and awards ceremony will be held March 23 at Third Avenue United Church.
"You can't possibly hear the last movement of Beethoven's Seventh and go slow." - Oscar Levant, explaining his way out of a speeding ticket.
Photo Filename: 021712 Peter England.jpg
