The Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival went ahead under unusual circumstances this year, with COVID-19 pandemic restrictions altering many aspects of the festival this year.
The festival took place at the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts, resuming after taking last year off. As noted by committee member Karen Ulmer, the festival took place while a full vaccination clinic was under way in Lawrence Hall on the east side. Safety measures saw all participants enter and exit through the stage door in the back, and everyone had to sign in. Sanitizing efforts went on throughout the festival.
Festival sessions were limited to seven participants with no parents, grandparents or festival spectators: only the adjudicator, teachers and volunteers were allowed in the theatre. Those who did attend were spaced out in assigned seating in the theatre. The gala concert itself was shown on a live stream on the Dekker Centre website.
A record 14 competitors are being sent in 28 classes to Provincials from the Battlefords Music Featival.
Winners were announced throughout the show and they are as follows:
Cecily Pfeifer was presented with the United Commercial Travellers scholarship for $100 for promising performer in junior vocal, the Sound City scholarship of $100 for promising performer in musical theatre, the Kelley Bahrey scholarship of $100 for promising performer in vocal seven years and under, and the Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival Committee Keepsake Award in junior Canadian piano classes.
Rianka Allaine Crespo was presented with the Dr. Russell Butler dental scholarship of $100 for Promising Performer in junior piano.
Keegan Isaac was awarded a $200 Dr. Russell Butler dental scholarship for Promising performer, a Rotary Club scholarship and the Norm Lehman Memorial Award for Most Outstanding Instrumental Solo. He was also recommended to compete in the Intermediate Brass division in the provincial finals competition.
His awards in strings and vocal include Sask. Orchestral Association scholarship of $200, Shoppers Drug Mart plaque and scholarship of $100, Lakeland Veterinary scholarship, and Robert MacKay scholarship of $150. He was recommended to Provincials in Intermediate vocal folk songs or ballads.
Zwyneth Rono received the Phoebe Wesson Crystal Cup for Promising Vocal Performer in Canadian music, a Dr. Russell Butler dental scholarship of $100 for Promising Performer, and the Patricia Hickley Scholarship and Cup of $100 for promising vocalist 16 years and under. She was also recommended to provincial finals in Sask. Excellence Competition, Classical Voice 17 and under, Intermediate Female Vocal, and Intermediate Folk Song or Ballad.
Ava Bahrey receives the Evelyn Ulmer scholarship for $1,000 for a promising piano performer, and the Hickson Cup for outstanding piano solo entry. She is also recommended for Provincials in intermediate Bach, Haydn, Mozart and recital piece classes.
Bahrey also receives the Battleford Furniture scholarship in musical theatre, the Robert MacKay scholarship in promising vocal performer in sacred music, and the Sobeys scholarship of $500 in senior vocal. She was also recommended to Provincials in the Saskatchewan Excellence category for classical voice 17 and under, intermediate female voice, intermediate concert group, intermediate musical theatre ballad and intermediate musical theatre uptempo.
Macey Odishaw won the Shelagh Newsham-Edge memorial scholarship for promising performer in musical theatre.
Also winning was Elisa Morin who won the Ivor Newsham memorial scholarship of $100 for promising performer in musical theatre. She was also recommended to Provincials in the elementary musical theatre division.
In the band section, Max Weiman on the drums won a Dr. Russell Butler dental scholarship of $100 for promising performer. Another award winner was David Revet who received the Lakeland Vet scholarship of $50 for promising performer.
Jay Cawood received the Donna and Roy Challis scholarship of $100 for promising performer in speech arts. Also in speech arts, the Battlefords Music Festival Committee Shield and scholarship of $100 was won by EMBM Grade 1-S for their online performance.
Clara Higgs won the River Valley Eye Care scholarship for $200 for promising performer in junior piano, a scholarship of $100 for promising performer of Chopin, and a BKMF keepsake award for excellence in junior baroque classes. She also was recommended to Provincials in the new Provincial Excellence awards in the 12 and under category.
Andre LaCock on the baritone won the Bee-J’s Office Plus Plaque and Scholarship of $100 for promising instrumental soloist 12 and under. Also in the band division Shae Maunula received the Lakeland Vet scholarship of $50.
Emma Harder was awarded the BKMF committee keepsake award for Canadian Classist in junior vocal and the NB Lions Club scholarship of $100 to a promising performer in junior vocal. She and her sister Madison also won the Battlefords Blend Sweet Adelines scholarship of $100 for best use of harmony by two or more voices.
Rhett Cawood is awarded the Ionic Lodge scholarship of $100 for promising performer in individual speech arts, the Lakeland Vet scholarship of $50 for promising performer on band instrument, and North Battleford Agencies scholarship of $100 for promising junior boy pianist.
Dmitri Masich received the Fortress Windows and Doors Ltd. scholarship of $150, a Dr. Russell Butler dental scholarship of $100 for Promising Performer, a Sask. Orchestral Association scholarship of $200 for Promising Performer on string, and a Battlefords Animal Hospital scholarship of $100 for Promising Performer on strings. He was also recommended to Provincials in Intermediate Percussion.
For piano, he also was awarded the Sons of Norway scholarship, and River Valley Eye Wear scholarship of $200. He was also recommended to Provincials in intermediate concierto.
Marielle Bala received the Milbanke Flowers Urban Accents Rose Bowl Award for outstanding entry in folk song classes. She also receives the $100 Battlefords Registered Music Teachers Scholarship for Promising Canadian Vocal Solo age 13-16, the Battlefords Registered Music Teachers Scholarship, the Battlefords Ministerial Association scholarship of $100, and Dance Connection scholarship for musical theatre. She also is recommended to Provincials in Junior Vocal and Junior Musical Theatre.
Sam Haase was awarded the Kiwanis Plaque and scholarship for $100 to a promising junior piano performer, and is recommended to Provincials for elementary piano solo for 12 and under.
His brother William Haase also won the BKMF committee Keepsake award for Baroque piano solo 13-16 year old classes, the Murray and Cicelia Burton scholarship and the Dr. Russell Butler dental scholarship.
Battlefords Community Youth Strings won a Dr. Russell Butler dental scholarship.
The John Paul II Collegiate band won the Rotary Shield and Scholarship for promising school instrumental group.
The North Battleford Comprehensive High School Grade 10-12 band took the North Battleford City Council Shield for highest mark in band or orchestra. They also were awarded the CIBC scholarship of $250 for promising band or instrumental ensemble.
Daly Haas received the $100 Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 70 scholarship for Promising Performer in brass or percussion. She is also recommended to Provincials in Intermediate Brass.
Also winning in band was Scott Klippenstein who was awarded a Canadian Tire scholarship for $100 for Promising Performer in woodwinds.
Ned and Jill Kroczynski were awarded the NB Lions scholarship of $100 to promising performers in Senior Piano Duet, and Gallery Singers scholarship of $50 and BKMF scholarship of $50 for promising vocal ensemble or duet. Jill also received the Jana Loehndorf memorial scholarship of $150 to a promising junior girl pianist, and was recommended to Provincials in Provincial Excellence classes age 12 and under.
Another duet scholarship winner was Francois Craib and Amelie Craib who won the NB Lions scholarship and Beatrice Marshall memorial Shield for promising performers in junior piano duet.
Ava Smith was awarded the Rotary Club scholarship of $100 for promising performer in vocal, and was recommended to Provincials for junior vocal and junior musical theatre.
Other vocal performers were Drew Chermcara who receives $100 NB Lione scholarship in senior vocal, and Shanti Odishaw who wins the $100 Dr. And Mrs. Hesselson Scholarship and was also recommended to Provincials in elementary vocals.
Ezit LaCock received the Murray and Cecilia Burton Scholarship of $100 for junior piano sonata and sonatina classes age 12 and under, and the Max Hesselson Memorial Scholarship of $250 to a promising performer in piano performing contemporary music or their own piano composition.
Jacob Lawrence received the Battlefords Registered Music Teachers Scholarship and was recommended to Provincials in junior piano.
Eli Butler received the Dr. Russell Butler scholarship and the Kiwanis Club scholarship of $100.
Matthew Escorpiso won the $200 MacPhail family scholarship to a promising performer in piano.
Jack MacKinnon won a Sask. Orchestral Association scholarship for promising performer in strings.
To view the awards gala, go to the Dekker Centre homepage and click on the livestream link. No password is needed and the show is free of charge. The link will be available until May 15 and you can purchase a USB of the show for $15 by emailing John Dyck at john@dekkercentre.com.
