The celebratory gala and awards ceremony for the 2015 Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival was held April 1 at the Dekker Centre. It was a delight for performers and spectators to experience adjudicator chosen highlights from all disciplines 鈥� piano, band, strings, voice, musical theatre and speech arts 鈥� and age categories 鈥� junior 12 and under, intermediate 16 and under and senior 17 and over 鈥� in the Dekker Centre performance space.
This opportunity was largely聽 made possible and affordable thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Knights of Columbus, St. Joseph鈥檚 Council No. 7736.
Several large ensemble performances shared their collaborative efforts. The EMBM Grade 5 band opened the program followed by a mixed age choral speech presentation from St. Vital Catholic School with Dance Connection musical theatre expertise mid-program. Near the closing was the transporting and poignant Kamala Youth Choir鈥檚 rendition of Under the African Sky.
The repertoire during the evening ranged from traditional musical theatre such as Ericka Revet singing Many a New Day from Oklahoma to senior level Debussy performed on piano by Zavienne Kowalczyk.聽 Bach on cello was heard through the talents of Zaidi Masich and Noah Esquirol performed a percussion version of Skater鈥檚 Waltz. The mood shifted to serious silliness courtesy of Kathleen Abrahamson鈥檚 spoken interpretation of The Really Ugly Duckling complemented by the playful fiddling of Keegan Isaac. Tricia Florence, local youth now studying voice at the University of Saskatchewan, closed the program with Je veux vivre from Romeo et Juliette.
The awards and scholarships were presented at the conclusion of the musical performances program. Again acknowledged with appreciation was the program cover contest winner, Samantha Federico.聽
All awards were entirely at the discretion of the adjudicators. The numerous opportunities for special recognition were made possible by the local businesses and individuals who support local youth participation and pursuit of music education. We gratefully acknowledge all festival donors and supporters. A special thanks goes out to Cathy Richardson who generously offered her talent and time as gala MC.
If you were fortunate enough to receive an award, be sure to send a thank you to the sponsor of that award. If you are nominated or recommended by an adjudicator for provincial competition, held early June this year in Saskatoon, note that pieces must be memorized in order to compete.
Congratulations to all who dared to prepare and showcase their musical talents as the entire community applauds your artistic efforts.
鈥淢usic, in performance, is a type of sculpture. The air in the performance is sculpted into something.鈥�鈥� Frank Zappa
