Do yourself a favour and set aside time for the Battlefords area music festival gala Wednesday, April 27. The festival gala features adjudicator-chosen festival highlights from all the music disciplines and categories along with the distribution of the numerous awards generously sponsored by local community members, organizations and businesses. It is being held at the Dekker Center at 7 p.m. making it possible for performers and spectators to enjoy local talent in our community鈥檚 most lovely performance space. Admission will be $10 a seat with free admission for performers, students, children, award recipients, session sponsors and award donors. Tickets are purchased at the door on the night of the gala.
It鈥檚 been a packed but inspiring week for participants and spectators of this year鈥檚 festival. Vocal, musical theatre, speech arts and band have already come to a close and kept Logie Hall at Third Avenue United Church busy ringing with music all week long. If you have not been able to attend thus far, there is still time to view some of the piano and strings classes. Piano classes are scheduled April 21 through 23. Strings are聽 being held for one day, Friday, April 22 in the morning and afternoon. The sanctuary of the church will truly showcase our local string talent. Friday afternoon piano in Logie Hall showcases sonata/sonatina studies with Baroque, Grieg and recital classes in the evening. Saturday morning continues with Baroque and recital selections into the afternoon with 20th century, 21st century and Chopin bringing the festival to a close in the evening.
If you have not seen this year鈥檚 program, it鈥檚 worth checking out for the local art work alone. The featured artwork by local youth who entered the festival program cover contest ranges from whimsical to inspiring. Be sure to check out the art contest winner on the cover of this year鈥檚 program featuring the artwork of John Paul II Grade 12 student Bradley Osecap. Other art contest entries are featured within the pages of the program. The vocal/choral section features Harley Melko from JPII. The band and instrument section features Jenna Parsons from JPII and Grade 7 student Nathan Schommer from EMBM. Kate Fransoo, in Grade 7 at EMBM, is the opening page for the speech arts and musical theatre section of the program. At the start of the piano section is Riley Potts from JP I with Grade 6 EMBM student Ava Bahrey rounding out the end right next to the strings section featuring the work of Joshua Pogany from JP II. Near the back of the program is the extensive list of awards being offered. The awards section cover page shares the work of JP II Grade 8 student Slavko Pristojko. Programs are available at Sobey鈥檚 or at festival venues for $7.
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 that performers have one opportunity to showcase their work. Ensure that 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. Please respect the provincial rules regarding photography and videotaping. 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.
鈥淎fter silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.鈥濃�� Aldous Huxley
