During the next two weeks, Martin Exeter Hall will be the venue for the 36th Annual 100 Mile Festival of the Arts.
The festival runs daily, starting on April 16 and ends with the Showcase Evening and awards on April 27.
It’s a joy to watch novice performers of one year become the skilled veterans of another, as they learn from adjudicators, teachers and peers, says Mary Ann Robertson, 100 Mile Festival of the Arts president and committee co-chair.
“The festival gives the students an opportunity to grow. The adjudicators stress different things for different students; it is a great learning experience for the students.”
The festival will take shape with daily performance by students who will be adjudicated by professionals in the different disciplines.
From April 16-19, speech and dramatic arts is the focus with adjudicator Anne McGladdery, who has completed her Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 10 practical exam and Level 4 theory and literature exams.
This is McGladdery’s first speech arts festival adjudication, but she comes from a family of adjudicators, Robertson says, adding her mother, Debbie, has been at past festivals.
Instrumental and band adjudicator Cheryl McHugh is from Vancouver, where she is active as a freelance musician and the principal flute and piccolo of the Band of the Fifteenth Field Regiment, RCA.
Band and Instrumental adjudication takes place on April 20-21.
Naomi Cloutier, piano adjudicator for the second year at the local festival will be at the Martin Exeter Hall on April 23-24.
Adjudicators are limited to two consecutive years, Robertson says, adding it is nice for the adjudicators to see students grow from one year to the next.
Vocal adjudication, on April 25-26, will be the focus for Kevin Zakresky, assistant conductor of Chor Leoni Men’s Choir.
He brings some wonderful credentials to the festival, Robertson says, adding Zakresky is increasingly in demand as both a choral and orchestral conductor.
People are welcome to pick up a program to find out the times of the performances at Didi’s Boutique and Donex Pharmacy and Department Store. The $5 programs will also be available at the door.
“The Festival is fun and we are hoping many people come out and see the students perform,” says Robertson. “Every session is by donation.”
The highlight of the festival is the Awards and Showcase Performance evening, starting at 7 p.m., at Martin Exeter Hall on April 27.
It will feature many of the top performances from the festival classes.
