ESTEVAN - The organizers of the Estevan and District Music Festival continue with their preparations for the annual showcase of local talent in a variety of disciplines.
Piano dates are March 27-30. The music festival has 188 piano entries, which is slightly down from last year. The adjudicator this year is Heather Macnab of Maple Creek who is a singer, speech artist, accompanist, adjudicator, church musician and teacher of singing, speech arts and piano.
She holds Associate of The Royal Conservatory of Music (ARCT) diplomas in singing, piano, and speech arts and drama. She was the winner of the gold medal for her speech arts and drama performers ARCT, signifying the highest mark in Canada.
Macnab directed musical productions in Maple Creek for 20 seasons, has been a performer and an orator and frequently performs in recitals. She is a member of the Saskatchewan Registered Music Teachers' Association and enjoys being an adjudicator for the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association.
Vocal, musical theatre and spoken word/speech arts entries are all scheduled for April 4. Soprano Louella K. Friesen – a singer, vocal teacher and adjudicator – will evaluate the entries this year. She provides vocal instruction to a studio of students at Rosthern Junior College and in her home community of Waldheim.
Friesen is a member of the Saskatchewan Registered Music Teachers’ Association and the National Music Teachers’ Association, as well as the Sask. Valley Music Festival Association. In addition, she has participated in a voice summer school program with Lisa Hornung of North Battleford.
With bachelor of music degrees in vocal performance from the Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg and the University of Saskatchewan, Friesen has enjoyed many choral and solo singing opportunities.
Band/instrumental/strings entries have increased this year and are all scheduled for April 6. The adjudicator will be Dr. Aaron Wilson, who is originally from the U.S. and joined the faculty at Brandon University’s School of Music as the assistant professor of low brass in 2014.
Wilson keeps a busy and varied performance schedule through solo, ensemble and performance art appearances. An acclaimed trombone player, he became an inaugural member of the International Tuba Quartet, a euphonium and tuba group consisting of musicians from Canada and the United States.
Lastly, he has made numerous appearances with several professional ensembles including the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Regina Symphony Orchestra, the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, the Brandon Chamber Players and the Market Street Brass.
Wilson frequently serves as a clinician and adjudicator at colleges, high schools, and festivals across North America.
Spectators are welcome to attend the Estevan festival, encourage students and support the love of music in the community.
