The Dr. Ken Sauer School Grade 4 choir performs 'This Ole Man' by Greg Gilpin, directed by Justine Wilks.--NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING
kking@medicinehatnews.com@kkingmhn
The 68th annual Medicine Hat Rotary Music Festival is off to a good start, say organizers, volunteers and participants alike.
Amateur performers from across southeast Alberta began showcasing talents Sunday when the festival officially opened, then continued to shine Monday for adjudicators and audiences.
“Everyone is so excited to be back at (the) festival,” director Delynne Lorentzen told the News on Monday afternoon. “Having gone through several years where things were not as usual, it is even more meaningful to be able to offer the kids this space to perform.”
Justine Wilks, a voice instructor and choral director at the Medicine Hat College Conservatory of Music, says she’s seen firsthand the difference a public stage makes to amateur performers in regards to building confidence and maintaining a love for music.
“The festival gives students an outlet,” said Wilks, who directed the Dr. Ken Sauer Elementary School Grade 4 Choir in its Monday morning performance. “In school, music is a fun subject where you get to move, you get to dance, you get to socialize a little bit more than you would for other subjects. But music also engages the students. We talk about our emotions. We talked about important social things that are happening through the music that we’re singing. It’s just so important.”
Returning festival performer Stirling Clark echoes Wilk’s belief, stating the festival provides him a space to grow as a performer in a multitude of ways.
“I really enjoy performing and (the festival) gives me a chance to do that, and it’s a really great way to connect with my peers as well,” said Clark, who has performed in the past 10 festivals.
“As well, I can use the feedback that I get (from adjudicators) to improve. I don’t often keep going with a piece that I’ve done for festival after that year. But I can use feedback to improve future pieces.”
Involving five venues and approximately 1,000 performers, this year’s festival is one of the largest in recent years, yet Lorentzen is confident the two-week festival will go off without a hitch, thanks to the committed efforts of adjudicators, volunteers and supporters.
“There are always challenges in terms of scheduling, and making it all fit together, staying within budget constraints and things like that,” said Lorentzen. “But generally, everyone involved really takes ownership for their area of responsibility and it’s a team effort.
“We have wonderful adjudicators and have been receiving a lot of positive feedback about them. As well, our faithful volunteers are always such a pleasure to see again and to work with. Some of our volunteers have been working with the festival for decades.”
Two such volunteers are Sherry and Gord Nott, who have been volunteering with the festival since 2003.
While the couple is glad to assist in making possible the festival, the Notts also enjoy the time spent watching performances and celebrating local talent.
“(I continue volunteering for) my love of music, of the youth and of seeing them grow in their musical endeavours each year,” Gord said. “I’ve been around here and connected with performers who have started from knee-high to a grasshopper, and some of whom are now in Nashville. And what a feeling (that is).”
As the festival continues for the next several weeks, Lorentzen shares her hope that above all it provides enjoyment to performers and the public.
“My main hope, as always, is that kids leave their performances feeling happy and inspired and motivated to keep making music,” she said. “We really are so proud of them and it’s such a worthwhile cause to give them this stage.”
