And let the music begin! The Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival opens this Wednesday in Wesley Hall at Third Avenue United Church with young Cory Wouters presenting Bed in Summer by Robert Louis Stevenson. After the morning of individual verse, St. Vital School will again host an afternoon of choral speech and singing games. Individual entries will continue in the evening, back in Wesley Hall.
During the three days of speech arts, we are excited that two additional schools are hosting choral speech entries; EMBM Thursday morning and Bready Friday morning. Also Friday, strings students will be filling the Third Avenue United Church sanctuary with their musical efforts.
When coming out to support young musicians, please keep good performance manners and etiquette in mind. Performers have one opportunity to showcase their work making it incredibly frustrating to hear a cell phone ring or vibrate, people whispering or attempts to enter or leave the room during a performance. Any distraction during a performance in progress or while the adjudicator is speaking must be avoided. This includes texting and perfumed scents. Also no photography or video recordings is allowed during performances, adjudications or certificate presentations. Performers should also dress and behave in a manner respectful of the festival. Unless your musical theatre characters demands otherwise, it is appropriate to avoid jeans and t-shirts. Err on the side of modesty if uncertain. And finally, congratulate all performers for their accomplishments and successes.
If you are a teacher or participant make sure you're abiding by festival entry rules and regulations. It is important to not use any photocopied music since that is illegal. Any music being viewed by the adjudicator or used in the performance must be an original copy. The music handed in to the adjudicator must have the first bar of each line numbered. Music must be handed in to the session's secretary prior to the start of each session. It is prohibited to practise in venue performance areas during the festival dates except in designated rehearsal or warm-up areas. And please arrive on time so sessions start promptly.
Programs for this year's Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival are available for $7 at Sobeys. If you are looking for a quick reference or summary, posters outlining dates and schedule information are posted around town.
All of this year's festival adjudicators are based out of Saskatoon. Opening the festival with speech arts, is Gaye-Lynn Kern, a teacher, performer and clinician. Strings adjudicator, Kim de Laforest, is a fiddle, violin and viola performer and teacher. Piano adjudicator, Mark Turner, grew up in a musical family in small town Saskatchewan, was self-taught at the piano, but went on to study and perform extensively across Canada. Michele Hupaelo, vocal adjudicator, is a voice and piano teacher. Wrapping up the festival with band is Peter England, a former teacher with the Saskatoon Catholic Board of Education currently active as an adjudicator/clinician throughout the province and the past president of SaskCulture.
Speech Arts will begin the festival running from March 7 to 9. String sessions will be held 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 March 20 and 21. The celebratory gala and awards ceremony will be held March 23 at Third Avenue United Church.
