THE BATTLEFORDS — The 91st annual Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival kicked off last Monday afternoon with a 10-and-under violin solo class at the Kinsmen Band Hall. The NBCK Community Band kicked off instrumental band classes in the evening program that same day with subsequent classes continuing through Friday, March 16. The final sessions for band and instrumental classes are Friday morning and afternoon March 16 with several duets, small ensembles and large ensembles at the Kinsmen Band Hall with adjudicator Daryl McKinnon from Moose Jaw.
Speech Arts entries begin Monday morning March 20 in Logie Hall of Third Avenue United Church continuing into the afternoon and evening. Vocal solo classes begin Tuesday morning March 21 in Logie Hall. Evening classes in the Sanctuary feature sacred and baroque classes. Wednesday, March 22, back in Logie Hall begins in the morning with solo poetry followed by folk songs or ballads. The afternoon classes include additional speech arts classes with the first musical theatre classes. The evening session begins with a classical voice class followed by numerous musical theatre classes. Marcia McLean of Swift Current is the adjudicator for these classes.
Piano solo classes begin Wednesday evening in the sanctuary of Third Avenue United Church. Piano classes continue Thursday morning March 23 in Logie Hall with afternoon classes held in the sanctuary. Piano solos continue in Logie Hall Friday morning March 24 followed by sessions in the afternoon. The evening classes will be held in the sanctuary. The final morning and afternoon piano classes are Saturday, March 25 in Logie Hall. Maria Mellow of Calgary is the adductor for piano classes.
Printed programs are available to purchase at Sobeys at the customer service counter. Students invited to perform at the final gala awards night will again have the opportunity to bring their talent to the world-class stage at the Dekker Centre Tuesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. Awards and scholarships will be presented at the gala. Recipients for awards must be present with exceptions at the discretion of the scholarship and awards committee. Admission is $10 a seat with children, students, donors, sponsors and performers free of charge
If participating in the festival or being part of the supportive audience, please bear in mind common courtesy and performance etiquette such as not entering or exiting venues during performances and turning off cellphones. Photographs and videos of performers and adjudicators cannot be taken in the festival hall. The festival venues are scent-free. Be sure to celebrate the accomplishments of each performer with enthusiastic congratulations.
Commenting on finding inspiration for songwriting, “A lot of the times it can be from mundane things like watching TV and someone will say something, and it clicks in your mind. Often, I will write a lyric and I don’t quite know it yet. It’s having an active mind. I have an active mind so there are always things buzzing around in my brain. Often, it’s a question of writing something down and pursuing an idea, and then it can turn into something completely different. But you’ve got something down to start you off.”- Kim Simmonds (1947-2022), a Welsh musician. He was the founder, guitarist, primary songwriter and sole consistent member of the blues rock band Savoy Brown.
