The 40th annual Athabasca and District Music Festival gets underway this week.
The event, which invites talented singers and musicians from around the region to perform and showcase their abilities, will feature a number of sessions over the next week. The music starts at the Nancy Appleby Theatre on Wednesday and continues there throughout the week, with sessions also scheduled for the Missionary Church and Whispering Hills Primary School.
Aside from classic examples of vocals and instruments, the festival will also feature speech and musical theatre categories.
Event organizer Ida Edwards is enthused about this yearís festival, and its status as the 40th anniversary.
ìWeíll be celebrating. Weíre happy weíve made it this far,î she said.
ìItís about participation in the performing arts. Itís an opportunity for youth to develop their skills as artists and to meet the challenge of learning a piece of music or a speech and face the fear and trepidation of performing in front of people; but also the joy of sharing their music and hard work.î
Kids six and under will comprise the youngest division, while the open division starts at 19 and is capped at 28.
All sessions will be free to attend with the exception of the awards night and concert on Thursday, March 21.
ìWeíd like to invite people to come out and support the artists by watching them, applauding them and encouraging them,î said Edwards.
