OLDS — Fourteen individuals or groups have been recommended to compete in the Alberta Provincial Music Festival May 26-29 in Edmonton after their outstanding performances during the 42nd annual Olds & District Kiwanis Music Festival.
Those winners are Aayaan Hossain, Oliver McKinnon, Alaya Rice, Deandra Pelletier, Amelia Hoffman, Landon Kopp, Mira Kopp, the École Deer Meadow School Choir, the École Olds High School Choir, the Olds Community Choir, Charlie Boffey, Spencer Peck, the Hugh Sutherland School Choir and the Music in Common Children’s Choir.
This year’s edition of the Olds & District Kiwanis Music Festival was held March 17-27.
The festivals’ Grand Concert & Awards took place April 1 and its annual benefit concert was held April 3. Both concerts were held at the TransCanada Theatre.
Wendy Durieux is the Olds music festival's coordinator and the provincial administrator of the Alberta Music Festival Association.
“We had a really fun festival this year,” she said during an interview with the Albertan.
Unfortunately, the number of entrants was down; 265, compared to 275 last year.
Durieux chalks that up to the lingering influence of COVID, noting before the pandemic, the festival used to regularly attract nearly 400 entrants.
She said as a result of COVID restrictions, some music teachers retired and some students stopped going to music lessons.
However, she said the quality and variety of entrants who did participate this year was very high and there was still plenty of variety.
“We had lots of bands, and some very large bands that came; that was really fun. And we've had some really lovely choral (contestants) that came that will be sent on to provincials. We had some really good days of piano. And then we had some vocals,” she said.
Musical theatre numbers were down though.
Durieux said she feels bad about that because “everybody loves the musical theatre.”
“We're just not hearing as much of musical theatre as we would like to hear, but, but I know that the kids are all working hard at it,” she said.
Durieux said Tuesday night’s Grand Concert & Awards event brought out the best in the performers because by then, the judging was over.
“They're not as nervous because they don't have someone who's writing comments about them or anything like that and so they're able to relax a little more and have a little more fun,” she said.
However, performing before an audience is a key part of a musical education, Durieux indicated.
“It's very similar to every year. We have some kids who are just really on the ball and really with it, and some that struggle with nerves and don't come up,” she said.
“When they have to go and perform, it's a little harder for them, but that's what this is for.
“When you are studying a performing art, and you only ever take a lesson every week and then just play at home, never have that chance to be able to perform, you don't learn to get over those nerves.
“And so by having the festival, not only can they perform, but they also get a feedback from somebody who is definitely qualified to give them feedback.
“(The judges are) probably saying much the same that their own teacher said, but because they're saying it, it means more, or they'll come back to the teacher and say, ‘oh, yeah, you just told me that.’”
On behalf of festival organizers, Durieux expressed gratitude to all the volunteers and donors who helped make the Olds & District Kiwanis Music Festival a success.
