100 Mile Festival of the Arts celebrates its 37th anniversary in the community with performances by people of all ages in the disciplines of vocal, piano, speech arts and instrumental, April 15-26.
Adjudicators Kevin Zakresky, Anne McGladdery and Cheryl McHugh return this year to encourage and instruct participants, after having impressed festival committee members with their presence and contributions last year, says festival co-chair Marilyn Buyar.
“They really have a feel for what musicians in non-urban areas are trying to accomplish. They go above and beyond and give quite a bit of individual attention to performers, which is what we really value.”
Adjudicators give participants a written evaluation of their performance with suggestions for growth and improvement.
The festival takes place at Martin Exeter Hall and opened April 15 with vocal performances. April 16-18 has piano in the spotlight, and this evening (April 17), adult vocalists will command the stage, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Everyone takes a break from Friday through Sunday, and then from April 22-23, speech arts are the focus.
Adjudication wraps up with instrumental April 24-25. School bands at 100 Mile House Junior Secondary and Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School will be evaluated at their respective schools on April 24.
There will be more than 300 performances during the two-week festival and a select few will be featured at the Awards and Showcase Performance at Martin Exeter Hall, April 26 at 7 p.m. More than 60 awards will be presented at the event.
In addition, adjudicators will recommend which students should either compete or attend as observers at the 2013 provincial competition.
Buyar says most performers look forward to taking part in the festival, despite a certain degree of nervousness that goes along with it.
“After you’ve had a good performance, you feel so elated. It’s a high like no other.”
She notes performers need a goal to work toward and Festival provides them one.
“It can be a pretty solitary occupation, and when you get a chance to hear one another, it’s self-affirming in a way.”
Both Eclectica Community Choir and a small local women’s choir will have the opportunity to attend a workshop with Zakresky while he is in 100 Mile House. He is music director of the Prince George Symphony Orchestra and conductor of the Pacifica Singers in Vancouver.
All adjudication performances and the showcase performance are open to the general public and admission is by cash donation.
100 Mile Festival of the Arts is a member of Performing Arts BC and 100 Mile & District Arts Council. It is a volunteer-run community charity that welcomes new members at any time during the year.
For more information, speak to anyone wearing a volunteer badge at the festival, or contact Mary Ann Robertson at 250-395-4302.
