Year after year, the Battlefords area has shown generous support of the annual Kiwanis Battlefords Music Festival. Even in these difficult times, the support for local young musicians continues.
The 2021 festival currently has $8,350 in scholarship money committee from various individuals and businesses. Awards are designated as junior or senior. The Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival defines “junior” as 12 and under and “senior” as 13 and older. Awards are up for grabs in all the musical disciples of vocal, instrumental, piano and strings. Awards range from most promising to highest mark with all awards being a minimum of $100.
To be eligible for an award or scholarship, a participant must be 19 years of age or younger; have lived in or studied in the Battlefords and district for a minimum of six months prior to the festival, or be furthering their education elsewhere but still supported by parents living in the Battlefords and district. Other students are welcome for adjudication and recommendation to the provincial and national level competitions.
Another way the public can support the festival financially, is the 50/50 raffle in conjunction with Sask Lotteries in support of the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association. The SMFA shares the proceeds from this lottery with all regional festivals including the Battlefords Music Festival. The winning ticket could receive as much as $50,000. The draw is June 6, 2021. Tickets can be purchased at https://smfa.ca/at one ticket for $10 or five tickets for $20.
With more than 200 entries, the 2021 Battlefords Music Festival’s program is taking shape. Yes, there are many COVID-29 safety restrictions to navigate but there are many positives to celebrate as well.
Though there will not an in-person audience for performers, live streaming will allow family and friends from far and wide to view performances. Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy the professional stage and concert grand piano the Dekker Centre offers. Participants will follow strict protocols, wearing masks whenever they enter or exit the performance space. Vocalists and those playing woodwind-type instruments will be allowed to remove masks while performing.
With a maximum of 30 people allowed at one time in the venue, attendance during performances will be limited to participants, adjudicators, teachers, volunteers and venue staff. Ensemble performances will submit performances digitally for adjudicator review. After festival award winners are determined, gala performances will be pre-recorded Tuesday April 27.
The program schedule is available online.
The festival will run from Monday, April 19 through Saturday, April 24. Voice, speech arts, and musical theatre can be viewed over two days, April 19 and 20 with vocal adjudicator Chris Kelly. Instrumental performances will all take place Wednesday April 21 with adjudicator Mark Preece.
Piano entries span three days, Thursday April 22, though Saturday, April 24 with adjudicator Janet Tieck. All three adjudicators are from Saskatchewan. Keep in mind that anyone interested in being a festival volunteer can talk to any committee member or email l.sander@hotmail.com.
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