ASSINIBOIA - Assiniboia and District Music Festival held its 90th festival from March 19 – 23. The sessions were held at the Assiniboia Alliance Church as they have been for many years.
There were 144 entries in a variety of vocal, strings, musical theatre, speech arts and piano classes. There were 47 participants from the community and neighboring communities. Eight of the participants were playing in Assiniboia and District Music Festival for the first time. “It was wonderful to see so many new faces and to reconnect with those who have been to festival in the past.”
The adjudicator this year was Carol McFadden from Waldheim. “She was wonderful to work with and impressed all with her knowledge and vocal skills with all the vocal classes. Also, lots of knowledge and encouragement for our piano students too.”
The Assiniboia and District Music Festival held an awards concert on the evening of March 28, 2023, also at the Assiniboia Alliance Church. Many community scholarships were awarded to participants from the festival, chosen by the adjudicator, many of whom also performed in the “Stars of the Festival” program. The concert was followed by the handing out of awards and an ice cream social, with ice cream being donated by our local Southland Co-op.
There was a lot of support from committee members, volunteers, scholarship donors, performers and those in the audience that had attended.
Award Recipients
Kady Kuntz received: $50 – Assiniboia Community and District Choir – Vocal Solo; $100 – Sunset Acres, Piano Solo, 15-16 Years; $25, Plaque and Keeper Trophy – People’s Choice Award – outstanding Performance in Musical Theatre, chosen by the people not the adjudicator, Donated by Karen Reisner; and shared a $200 – William Shurniak Memorial, Most Deserving Piano Competitor, to be invited to perform at the Shurniak Art Gallery at a later date .
Ava Coghill received:- $50 – Order of the Eastern Star #8, Assiniboia Chapter – Piano 13-14 Years.
Amanda Blohm, Daniel Sutherland, Byeolha Seo, Brielle Jacobs, Ayden Jacobs, and Peyton Petersenwere recommended to the Saskatchewan Provincial Finals in Saskatoon May 30 – June 2. These participants received a mark of 87 or higher and competed in a Provincial Class.
Les Wilcock, representing the Assiniboia and District Community Choir, received: $50 – Town of Assiniboia – Any Chorus.
Jonathan Kenes received: $50 – Ross Funeral Service – Piano Concert Group, any class. Gabriella Willis received $50 – Piche-Hawkins-Grondin Funeral Chapels – Deserving String Solo. Cassia Delorme received $50 – Piche-Hawkins-Grondin Funeral Chapels – Piano Solo, 8 Years and Under.
Peyton Petersen received $50 – Ross Funeral Service – Piano Recital Class – 13 Years and Over. Ria Seo received $50 – Kinsmen Club of Assiniboia – Piano Solo, Sonata/Sonatina. Nate Rasmussen received $50 – St. John’s Masonic Lodge #106 – Piano Solo 11-12 Years.
Lucy Quark received $50 – Kinette Club of Assiniboia – Piano Solo, 9-10 Years. Ethan Delorme received $50 – Southland Co-op, Piano, Baroque Period, Any Class and $50 – Southland Co-op, Piano Recital Class, 12 Years and Under.. Ayden Jacobs received $50 – Assiniboia and District Arts Council – Musical Theatre Solo.
Brielle Jacobs received $50 – Nelson GM – Vocal or Speech Arts. Daniel Sutherland received $50 – Assiniboia and District Ministerial Association, Vocal, Christian Music.
Isabella McCaslin received $50 – Assiniboia and District Ministerial Association, Instrumental, Christian Music. Teagan Pituley received $50 – Rotary Club of Assiniboia, Instrumental Solo.
