Three local performers represented Team Saskatchewan in the Canada West Performing Arts Festival, held in Victoria, B.C. July 25 to 27. Only the top performers from each participating province are invited to compete in the prestigious final of the music festival competition.
During this competition, Willem Hoogstad was awarded top honours and claimed the much sought-after first place, as well as $1,000.00 prize money, in the Intermediate under 17 Speech class.
Willem delivered a strong 20-minute program in which the adjudicator, Sydney Sengotta, praised the “great moments of truth” in his performance, along with his narrating skills that “lure the audience”.
“I feel Willem has an unfair advantage,” Sengotta said, “his voice has such power, such skill, softness, strength, intellect.”
Willem was also invited to deliver his Mark Antony Shakespeare monologue at the distinguished gala performance of the festival, where he was the only Saskatchewan representative. His delivery was very well received by the audience. Sengotta remarked that the emotional power of his ending “made his hair stand on end.”
Steyn Hoogstad performed a 25-minute program, which was judged to be “very captivating” with “a level of sincerity that felt honest and real”. Steyn was announced runner-up in the Senior Speech class for competitors 22 years and under.
Liné Linde represented Saskatchewan in the under-13 classes of Classical Voice, Musical Theatre, and Spoken Word. She received great feedback and learned a lot.
The three artists train under Stacy Berg-Lloyd of Provost, Alta. Her dedication, creativity and passion for the performing arts have been instrumental in helping her students achieve high honours. The competitors also appreciated all the support they received from the Unity and Prairie Sunset Music Festivals and the Macklin Arts Council.
