THE BATTLEFORDS ‑
Let the show begin! The 90th annual Kiwanis Battlefords Music Festival opens Monday, March 21 (morning, afternoon, evening) continuing Tuesday March 22 (morning, afternoon) at the Dekker Centre with vocal, musical theatre and speech arts entries.
Chris MacRae is this year’s adjudicator for voice. MacRae has appeared across North America in a wide range of stage and concert repertoire. He is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and the Saskatchewan Registered Music Teachers Association (SRMTA). While on the faculty at the University of Arkansas, Dr. MacRae received the Outstanding Mentor Awar’ three times for helping young singers discover and develop strong technical skills. This past fall he joined the faculty at the University of Regina.
Piano entries are scheduled Thursday, March 24 (morning, afternoon), Friday, March 25 (morning afternoon, evening), and Saturday, March 26 (morning, afternoon) also at the Dekker Centre. The piano adjudicator, Lynn Ewing, a native of Saskatchewan, has taught piano, music theory and singing for many years in Saskatoon. She also enjoys performing both as singer and as pianist either as a collaborative artist or as a soloist. She works as a music adjudicator in western Canada and has examined for Conservatory Canada. Ewing holds diplomas in piano and singing from the Royal Conservatory of Music Toronto and Trinity College of London, UK. She also has a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Saskatchewan and a B.Ed. from the University of British Columbia.
String entries are scheduled Monday morning March 28 at the North Battleford City Kinsmen Band Hall continuing in the afternoon with band instrumental entries. Band and instrumental entries continue early Tuesday morning through the afternoon with school ensembles continuing with three senior solo entries and the NBCK concert band ensemble in the evening.
This year’s band adjudicator is Mark Ward. Currently living in Medicine Hat, Alta., Ward has degrees from Western University in Ontario, University of Lethbridge, Alta., and a master’s degree in trumpet performance from the University of Victoria, B.C., where he studied trumpet, conducting and music education. He has participated in workshops and brass master classes with world renowned teachers including Arnold Jacobs and Vincent Chicowitz and more recently with Malcolm McNabb and Dr. Gillian McKay.
Ward recently retired from teaching secondary school music in British Columbia and Alberta after 32 years. He has served on the board of directors of the British Columbia Band Association and the Alberta Band Association including a term as president. He is a member of Phi Beta Mu, an international fraternity of bandmasters.
All festival sessions are open to the public. Donations towards expenses are gratefully accepted at the door of venues. Dekker Centre policy requires everyone to wear a mask while in the venue, excepting performers on stage.
When coming out to support young musicians, please keep good performance manners and etiquette in mind. Participants and audience members are expected to stay seated in the theatre during performance. It's usually best to be seated at the beginning of the session and leave once the adjudicator has given his or her remarks.
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 cellphones, 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 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.
Printed festival programs can be purchased at Sobeys. It includes generous sponsors and delightful student artwork.
There will be a livestream of festival performances again this year. Parents and any other interested people know can access the livestream from the link found on the Dekker Centre home page.
The culminating gala is scheduled for Tuesday, April 5 at the Dekker Centre. The evening will feature outstanding performances and highlights chosen by adjudicators along with the presentation of awards. The performers who are chosen will be invited to a rehearsal on Tuesday afternoon at the Dekker Centre. There is $10 ticket fee for the gala concert.
In the spirit of St Patrick’s Day, it’s fitting to remember an Irish musician.
“I've never wanted to lose touch of the sound of the band, the sound that the chieftains have created and made well known among our peers and other people. It's always a joy to work with such talented musicians. I'm very fortunate that such great players perform with us” – Paddy Moloney (1938 – 2021)
