The Barrhead Rotary Music Festival is celebrating 35 years, and is calling out to all musicians interested in participating in the weeklong event from March 9 to 14.
The festival began in 1980, and has been celebrated each year in Barrhead since, with music students from far and wide travelling to the area to participate.
Jennifer Thomas, President and Entry Secretary of the festival, said she herself participated in the event years ago, in several different categories.
“I grew up entering the festival since I was in kindergarten,” Thomas said, adding she participated in speech, piano, and sang with her school choir.
“It’s a neat perspective to be a student and to now be a teacher and to be an executive with the festival,” she said.
The event features four different music categories.
“We have speech, voice, instrumental, and piano disciplines happening during the week,” Thomas said, adding performers must be considered amateur.
All ages are welcome to register to perform, Thomas said, adding there are several different categories.
“Our local festival will create categories if something does not fit with the provincial syllabus,” Thomas said.
One year the festival had a performer who did not fit under any category, so they made one.
“One year we had a harmonica entry, and that was not one that was recognized at the provincial level,” Thomas said. “To encourage them to enter, we create a local category for them.”
The students are judged based on their prepared piece for an audience that can include anyone interested in attending the event.
“Our festival is set up so that they are expected to learn a piece, memorization is recommended although it is not a necessity,” Thomas said. “They perform their piece and then the adjudicator provides them with a written comment sheet and they do take time to speak with them and work with them.”
Thomas said the adjudicators are also there to work with the students and to provide feedback that will help encourage them to move forward in their musical careers.
The students will also receive a certificate with a rating in gold, silver, or bronze.
“Once they have received their certificate they are finished,” Thomas said, adding that some performers may be asked to perform at the final concert that brings the event to a close.
“The top mark in the age or grade categories receive a medallion at our final concert when we present our awards,” Thomas said.
Scholarships are also available in various disciplines to recognize the students’ dedication to music, and to encourage them to further their career.
“The adjudicators choose the scholarship recipients,” Thomas said.
Several venues are used for the festival, with Barrhead Elementary School, the Lutheran Church, and the United Church all offering spaces for performances.
“We want to promote the arts, and an appreciation of them, and to support the students and their love of music,” she said, adding that the opportunity provides students a safe environment to learn from adjudicators who work in music.
Thomas said celebrating 35 years is an exciting milestone.
“I am proud that it has lasted,” she said. “I feel music is very important in the development of children, so I think it is wonderful that our community has been able to support it for so many years.”
The deadline to register is Feb. 1, with details available at the Barrhead Public Library.
Students interested can register by filling out an entry form at the Library, or by contacting Thomas at 780-305-3153.
