For 16 days in March, the Estevan and District Music Festival showcased the community's established talent, as well as young, up-and-coming musical stars.
The festival was capped on April 3 when the Hi-Lites and Awards show was held in the cafetorium at the Estevan Comprehensive School.
Melanie Hiske, an organizer of the festival, noted that numbers for participants was down a little, but thought the event went well, and they were happy with the four adjudicators.
"It's always a stressful but fun time for the participants, and they find it especially rewarding when they get to come to the awards show and get to perform or receive an award for the hard work they have put in." said Hiske.
One musician who was particularly honoured at the awards show was Kaylee MacKenzie, having captured the marquee Murray GM Award of Merit for outstanding performance in multiple disciplines. She performed on the piano, Spring Celebration, by Chatman that evening and also collected the Shirley Andrist, outstanding piano performance in the open category, outstanding individual woodwind performance and is a member of the ensemble Estevan A Cappela Singers, who were awarded with the Pon Perry Harmony Award for best chorus of the festival.
Winning the open outstanding band/instrumental ensemble were Chanel Theivin, Everett Schwab and Matthew Grunert.
The music festival went out in style last Tuesday night, when performances highlighted some of the best the Estevan district has to offer in several aspects of the musical scene.
At the show about $10,000 in prize money was awarded to more than 100 individuals practising music. The individual scholarships ranged between $15 and $500.
Recommended by the adjudicators to perform at the Saskatchewan Provincial Music finals were the Estevan A Cappella Singers, Everett Schwab, Kaylee Mackenzie, Kyla Deitz, Maya Branyik-Thornton, McKenzie Warriner and Shaylee Foord. The competition is in Saskatoon from June 1 to 3.
As musicians prepare for the provincial competition, Hiske added that all piano students in the district will be getting ready for their June exams as well.
The Saskatchewan Music Festival Association volunteer awards went to Sharon Stregger, who has been taking time to help with the festival for more than 10 years, and Zella Reed, who has been a mainstay at the festival for the last 25 years.
