The 2014 Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival opens this Tuesday, March 25 at 9:30 a.m. with band ensemble performances at North Battleford Comprehensive High School. Soloists will be featured in the afternoon and evening in Logie Hall at Third Avenue United Church.
Wednesday, March 26 look for morning and afternoon band performances at Battleford Central School. Don't miss BCS's spectacular drumline closing the band portion of the festival.
Thursday, March 27, look for a lovely morning and afternoon of string performances at Third Avenue United Church.
In case you missed any of the past blurbs introducing this year's adjudicators, here are the highlights. Kicking off this year's festival with band, is Greg McLean, a respected Saskatchewan band director and clinician. Strings adjudicator, Rudolf Sternadel, was born in Prague and is currently the head of the Child/Parent String Program at the Regina Conservatory of Performing Arts, assistant music director of the South Saskatchewan Youth Orchestra and a member of the Regina Symphony. Kevin Power, musical theatre adjudicator, comes from Saskatoon and is a critically acclaimed singer/actor and a published composer. Assessing vocal entries will be Garry Gable, a bass-baritone who resides in Saskatoon where he teaches vocal studies and directs the Music Theatre Ensemble at the University of Saskatchewan. Travelling from Maple Creek for speech arts is Heather Macnab, active as a mezzo-soprano, singing teacher, director, accompanist and adjudicator. Closing the festival with piano, Lynette Sawatsky has accompanied various vocal/instrumentalist groups, taught both group and private lessons, and worked as a music specialist in the Saskatoon Public System.
All sessions are open to the public. Donations towards festival expenses are gratefully accepted at the door of venues. When coming out to support young, please keep good performance manners and etiquette in mind. While enjoying the extensive talent being nurtured in the Battlefords area, remember performers have one opportunity to showcase their work. Ensure you are not responsible for distractions such as ringing or vibrating cell phones, whispering amid a performance, or entering or leaving the room during a performance. Any distraction during a performance or while the adjudicator is speaking must be avoided; this includes texting and perfumed scents. No photography or video recordings are allowed during performances, adjudications or certificate presentations. Finally, be sure to 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. The attire and behaviour of performers should reflect 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 please arrive on time so that sessions start promptly.
The $7 printed festival program is available at Sobeys. Our cover winner is Joseph Bowen with his inspiring artwork entitled "Music Grows."There is also much original artwork featured within the pages of the program. Be sure to take the time to enjoy the contest entries displayed at entrances and on the walls where festival activities are taking place. Keep your eyes open around town for posters summarizing the festival schedule's dates, disciplines, times and locations.
The schedule for music disciplines for the 2014 Battlefords Music festival is: band March 25 - 26,strings March 27, musical theatre March 28 and 29, voice March 30 - April 1, speech arts April 2 - 3, piano April 5 - 7, with the celebratory gala Wednesday, April 9.
"To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable." -Aaron Copland?
