Volunteers are the life blood of many local committees and the Kiwanis Music Festival is no exception.
As with any event, the more people work together to pitch in with their time and talent, the easier it is. Consider if you or someone you know might be a festival supporter willing to sacrifice a little time in order to ensure the continuation of this local tradition and musical celebration. Festival supporters can come in all sizes and shapes from parents, to grandparents, to aunts or uncles, to older teens or young adults. In fact, volunteer experience reflects well on resumés and job applications.
There are various types of roles and jobs suited for any category of supporter. Festival jobs include duties such as being a secretary for the adjudicator, being a door greeter or simply helping with items such as decorating the venue or setting up chairs. Committee jobs can be something as simple as assisting with distribution and follow up of letters seeking donations for scholarships and awards.
Of course if you are interested in a larger commitment such as secretary or president, do not be shy about your interest. We are, in fact, currently in need of a vice-president. The bottom line is that I challenge all festival supporters to consider contributing a little, a lot, or something in between towards this annual celebration of local talent. Talk to your friends and neighbours and let's all work together as proud supporters of this special event.
If your time is not available but you or your business would like to support the festival monetarily, consider sponsoring an award to be presented at the final gala event, or sponsoring a session for a music discipline of your choice or being recognized as a patron or friend of the festival.
The registration deadline for this year's Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival is Saturday, Feb. 1. Entries may be delivered in person at the North Battleford City Kinsmen Band Hall from 1 - 4 p.m. on that date or mailed to P.O. Box 1301, North Battleford, S9A 3L8.Late entries will be accepted until Feb. 19, with a $25 late entry fee. Registration forms are available at Sobeys and the current syllabus can be found online.
Fees for solos, duets, and trios remain at $13 per entry and there is a 50 per cent family discount after 10 solo entries by individual participants. Battlefords festival entry fees are still lower than those suggested in the provincial syllabus. It is our goal to encourage participation by keeping fees affordable.
We are once again offering the festival program cover drawing contest. Children and youth from the Battlefords area are invited to submit original ideas for considered use as the 2014 festival program cover. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 7. Entries may be submitted at the band hall on festival registration day or delivered to Kelly Waters at St. Vital School or Agi McQuaid at EMBM.
Selected pieces of artwork not chosen for the cover may also be featured within the pages of the program. Although all musical themed ideas are welcome, typically those reflecting the festival's disciplines are chosen for use in the program (solo or group singing/speaking, piano, acoustic strings, band/orchestra).
The currentschedule for music disciplines for the 2014 Battlefords Music Festival is: band March 24 - 26, strings March 27, musical theatre March 28 and 29, voice March 30 - April 1 (Sunday - Tuesday), speech arts April 2 - 4, piano April 5 - 7, with the celebratory gala Friday, April 11.
'Volunteers don't just do the work - they make it work."?
- Carol Pettit
