Like many who studied piano or voice or a musical instrument, I have special memories of participating in my local music festival. My experiences were in Swift Current while growing up, but district festivals are annual educational events showcasing local talent in nearly 50 communities across Saskatchewan from cities such as Saskatoon to rural communities such as Leader and as far north as La Ronge.
The Saskatchewan Music Festival was established in 1908 and is incorporated under the Non-Profit Corporations Act. On the SMFA website, the stated vision is 鈥淓nhancing lives through an appreciation for music鈥� along with the mission statement, 鈥淧romoting excellence in music and speech through competitions, performance and educational opportunities for the people of Saskatchewan.鈥�
Earl Grey, Canada鈥檚 governor general from 1904-11, proposed, following a concert which was part of the inauguration ceremonies of Alberta, that a dominion-wide festival should be established for drama and music. Some time later he sent letters to the lieutenant governors of each province and asked for their support. Alberta and Saskatchewan were the only two provinces to respond.
With the Battleford area festival marking its 85th year in 2016, some great-grandchildren of the first festival volunteers are now music festival supporters and are aware of the thousands of volunteer hours required to prepare for an annual local festival. As described in the SMFA website philosophy, 鈥渢he festival scenario, the competitive aspect allows students to attain goals, to learn stage deportment, to listen, to win or lose graciously and to become good audience members.鈥�
Saskatchewan Music festivals participants, including those in the Battlefords festival, have access to provincial and national levels of competition upon recommendation of the guest adjudicators.
If you missed the festival entry registration date deadline of Feb. 6, late entries will be accepted up until Feb. 13 with a $25 penalty fee. Our local area entry secretary, Melissa Hutchison, can be contacted by email at [email protected]. If you need in-person assistance with the online registration process, committee members will be available at EMBM on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
We encourage Battleford area children and youth 18 years old or under to flex their artistic skill by creating an image to be considered for use in the 2016 Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival program. The festival program cover contest deadline is March 1. Artwork should reflect musical themes and be presented on letter-sized paper in a vertical or portrait orientation.听 Pictures may be drawn in black ink, pencil, colored pencil, marker, crayon or medium of choice, but should have a white background. Artists must print their full name, phone number, school and grade on the back of their entry.
Entries may be mailed to P.O. Box 1301, North Battleford, S9A 3L8, or submitted to Kelly Waters at North Battleford Comprehensive High School, Jan Michael Bourgeois at John Paul II Collegiate or Margaret Sigouin at EMBM.
Selected pieces of artwork that are not chosen for the cover may also be featured within the pages of the program. Also look for festival venues to feature and display other entries.
Any amount of time or talent you have to offer, if interested in volunteering, is welcome so don鈥檛 be shy. Jobs come in all shapes and sizes at the Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival. If you have volunteered in the past and would like to volunteer again, please let a committee member know so your interest is not overlooked. If your time is not available, but you or your business would like to support the festival monetarily, consider sponsoring an award to be presented at the final gala event, sponsoring a session for a music discipline of your choice or being recognized as a patron or friend of the festival.
The current schedule, pending final programming, for the 2016 Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival is: vocal April 16 to 18, band April 18 to 19; musical theatre April 19; speech arts April 20 to 21, strings April听22; and piano April 21 to 23.
鈥淢usic acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens.鈥澨� 鈥� Maria Augusta von Trapp
听
