Music Festival To Wrap Up With Major Concert On Sunday
Moose Jaw Music Festival - Awards Comcert
Sunday April 1st at 2 pm
Zion United Church’s Sanctuary - 423 Main Street North
Admission by donation
By Robert Thomas
It was a special Thursday evening for mine vocalists, pianists and a classic guitar player as the Moose Jaw Music Festival held their major scholarship competition.
And although the annual festival is almost wrapped up for another year there is still a major opportunity to experience the beauty and talents of local young musical artists this Sunday afternoon.
To be held this Sunday afternoon at 2 pm at Zion United Church’s Sanctuary - 423 Main Street North - the festival’s Awards Concert will feature a varied repertoire that will appeal to a wide audience.
Admission is by cash donation, which is not strictly enforced so it’s free for those who cannot afford it, to help defer the costs of the festival.
“If you just want to come and listen that’s perfect too…we just appreciate the community’s support,” a festival organizer said.
The performers from Thursday evening’s event - MJ Independent photo
What Is The Festival All About?
Running for over 80 years the Moose Jaw Music Festival not only allows a vast repertoire performers the opportunity to showcase their talents but also to be adjudicated to improve their talents, Jeri Ryba past president of the festival told MJ Independent.
The repertoire of the festival - which was split over two weeks - ranging from choirs in week one to band, piano, voice and musical theatre this past week.
The festival was held at three venues - Peacock Collegiate’s auditorium, the theatre at the Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery and Zion United Church’s sanctuary.
“We’ve had just a great week of music and this Sunday we have our final performances and we hand out all of the scholarships,” she said.
A major thing about this year’s festival is this Sunday will be the first awards concert open to the general public since the COVID - 19 pandemic struck.
Ryba said the number of entries at this year’s festival was in the 300 to 400 range. Average but still recovering from the pandemic’s impact on the event.
Natalie Warren performs beautiful vocals to the song “Spring is at the door” by Quilter - MJ Independent video
The festival, unlike the provincial festival scheduled in Moose Jaw for June 1 - 4, does not draw performers from throughout the province but rather is locally focused.
“We are really excited to have a live concert this year and in fact this is the first year since COVID we have had an all lines of disciplines of all the music going live,” she said.
About Sunday’s concert she said it is open to everyone.
“It’s open to everyone. Anyone who wants to come down to hear it is very welcome,” she said about Sunday’s event, adding “the concert runs about an hour and 20 minutes and it is great entertainment.”
If the weather holds and does not deteriorate it may be a good event to attend, she said.
“It’s a perfect day to get out and come and support these young musicians in Moose Jaw. A few are going on to the provincial music festival,,,and from there may go on to the Canada West music festival.”
The age range of performers at the festival runs from ages six to about 20.
“There is lots of good talent. There are hard working teachers and students who attend this festival.”
Alora De Jaegar performs on the piano at Thursday evening’s concert - MJ Independent video
It’s a festival where spectators have the opportunity to see performers in their formative years before they moved onto major roles in music elsewhere.
“We have had students who have come to this festival and gone on to professional careers in musical theatre, opera, in classical piano. Many of them are music professors and music teachers,” she said.
Asked by MJ Independent Ryba said in the past the festival had seen the likes of the well known alumni such as the Churko musical family.
“The whole Churko family came through here too.”
Kevin Churko went on to write songs for some of rock music’s biggest names.
Ryba remembers playing piano for Kevin at the festival.
The repertoire of the festival is varied and broad.
“We have Classical, musical theatre and contemporary. We have it all. There is a great variety for sure.”
Asked about the festival not just offering a musical but also a cultural opportunity she said “definitely it is.”
“It’s really great to see these young students to see each other and support each other. You know it’s really important part of their development,” Ryba said.
It’s an opportunity to catch some musicians at the beginnings of their musical careers.
Performing on Thursday evening were:
Vocalists- Kady Kuntz, Elizabeth Deans, Isaiah Artavia, Presley McLeod, Natalie Warren, Alora DeJager and Danae Hallett.
Pianists - Shoshanna Miller and Alora De Jager
Classical Guitar - Tague O’Bright