If you were able to attend the Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival Gala March 23rd, culminating months of Festival planning, you were treated to a contrasting range of musical performances. What a pleasure to see emerging talents alongside more mature experienced performers displaying the fruits of their dedicated training.
The always inspiring Kamala Youth opened with O Canada before singing an incredible rendition of Hatfield's Who Rolled the Stone Away? with following performances ranging from Ericka Revet performing The Really Ugly Duckling representing junior speech arts, to outstanding junior woodwind participant Jeanny Jung playing flute, to classical strings, to the Dance Connection senior musical theatre troupe, and advanced performers such as Bethany McQuaid performing Marcello's Sonata in F Major, vocalist Michelle Hanna singing Argento's Winter and David Patterson bringing the performance aspect of the gala to a rousing close with Joplin's classic Maple Leaf Rag for piano.
It is important to thank 2 Extreme Limousine for sponsoring this year's gala. Everyone enjoyed the treats and refreshments provided after the awards ceremony. Incredibly, over $10,000 worth of awards and scholarships were disbursed among children of all musical disciplines for their musical accomplishments. How wonderful to see this kind of support and generosity extended to young local musicians from community businesses, organizations, and individuals. Bravo to your support of music and arts education in the Battlefords.
The festival cannot function without the many volunteers working as door stewards and secretaries. Setting up and tearing down is much less of a burden with many hands helping. There would not be a stage to showcase local talent without the flexibility of festival venues; Third Avenue United Church, NBCK Band Hall and the session hosting schools of St. Vital, EMBM, Bready, and NBCHS.
Without high calibre dedicated music instruction in the Battlefords, the raw talent in our young people would not be guided and nurtured so masterfully. I could not be listing items for which we give thanks without mentioning Cathy Richardson. Her long time dedication to the festival was undeniably apparent in her role as gala MC where she spoke with eloquence, gracefully improvised during times of minor technical difficulties, seamlessly guided the awards segment and enriched the event with detailed knowledge about performers and award recipients.
Finally, bravo to all the brilliant performers who displayed their skills and talent in the course of this year's festival. Congratulations to you all. Please keep practising and making our community ring with your gifts. We look forward to seeing and hearing you next year.
Good luck to all going on to participate in the upcoming provincial music festival held this year in Saskatoon.
"Because when he sings ... even the birds stop to listen." - Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games
