The 2017 Battlefords Music Festival opens Sunday afternoon April 2 in the sanctuary of Third Avenue United Church.
The afternoon features sacred, lieder and art vocal entries. The evening presents sacred and opera entries along with vocal ensembles. The acoustics of the sanctuary always enhance the experience for spectators,
Monday, April 3, vocal classes continue in Logie Hall at Third Avenue United Church. The morning celebrates Canadian art songs. The afternoon offers folk songs and Royal Conservatory grade entries and the evening features sacred and recital entries.
Vocal classes continue Tuesday, April 4 with a full day of musical theatre in Logie Hall. The morning showcases up-tempo, the afternoon up-tempo and ballads and the evening duets and ensembles.
Band entries fill three days beginning in the morning of Tuesday, April 4 at the Kinsmen Band Hall with school bands and with jazz in the afternoon in the Lecture Theatre at North Battleford Comprehensive High School.
Wednesday, April 5 continues in the Lecture Theatre in NBCHS with school bands along with solos and duets. Two locations are used Wednesday evening. Community bands open the evening at the Kinsmen Band Hall followed by senior solos national classes in Logie Hall in Third Avenue United Church.
Thursday, April 6 band solos, duets and small ensembles are in the Kinsmen Band Hall.
Speech Arts are in Logie Hall the morning of Wednesday, April 5. Those enchanted by strings performances should mark Friday, April 7 on their calendar, as Logie Hall will display classical string solos in the morning with concertos and fiddling in the afternoon.
Piano, the last musical discipline of the festival fills four days beginning on Thursday evening, April 7 in Logie Hall with Canadian recital pieces. Friday morning and afternoon highlights sonatas, sonatinas, Canadian composers and Baroque. Saturday continues with Royal Conservatory 20th and 21st century composers, Canadian composers, sonatas and Beethoven. Recital pieces, concertos, and duets fill the evening schedule.
The final afternoon of the festival Sunday, April 9 is an entertaining selection of elementary recital class entries.
It will be a busy and musically exciting week
The $8 festival programs are available at Sobeys or at the festival venues. 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 musicians from our community, 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 cellphones, whispering during 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 photocopied music since that is illegal. Any music 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 practice 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 sessions start promptly.
Keep in mind the gala date of Wednesday, April 12. The Festival gala features adjudicator-chosen festival highlights from all the music disciplines and categories. It is being held at the Dekker Center at 7 p.m. Admission will be $10 a seat with free admission for performers, students, award recipients, session sponsors and award donors. Tickets are purchased at the door on the night of the gala.
Q: Why did Mozart kill his chickens? 
A: Because they always ran around going "Bach! Bach! Bach!"

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