Jacob Huntington performs the Hockey Night in Canada theme song during the Shuswap Music Festival’s Gala Concert Program at First United Church on Friday, April 29. Those performing in the gala concert were chosen as the best of the festival by festival organizers.
Photo credit: Evan Buhler, Salmon Arm Observer
Jeff den Biesen honoured at Gala
2 Pianos~8 hands, Gala finale
Jeff den Biesen honoured at Gala
Provincial Festival candidates
Blair Borden Memorial Scholarship presented to Emily Wark, Jenae VanGameren and Andrew Stoney.
Rotarian Peter De Toit presents Piano “Best of the Festival” to Andrew Stoney.
The Shuswap Music Festival concluded Friday April 29 with a Gala Concert at the First United Church. Performers, selected by the Festival adjudicators, entertained a captive audience. “Keep playing and keep sharing your music” was a recurring theme throughout the two-week Festival.
In addition to celebrating the talent of amateur Shuswap musicians, the evening was an opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of our youth with the presentation of well-earned awards and scholarships worth a total of $4795.00.
Earlier in the Festival, Band adjudicator Peter Stigings applauded music teacher Brian Pratt-Johnson for his outstanding work with the Jackson School Concert Band. Stigings encouraged the students. “Take music each year in high school,” he advocated, “and keep on playing and sharing your music long after high school graduation and into your adult lives.” His words were echoed by many others during the Festival. “You are very fortunate,” added Stigings, “that your school district continues to fund a music program.”
Some “graduates” of the Festival continue to follow a music path. This year the Blair Borden Memorial Scholarship, for pursuit of a career in music, was awarded to three contestants: Jenae VanGameren (voice), Emily Wark and Andrew Stoney (piano). Reid Fowler presented The Mary Fowler Memorial Scholarship for ‘Excellence in Vocal Performance’ to Paige Tower.
2 Pianos~8 hands, Gala finale
A very talented 13-year-old musician—Holly McCallum—took the Gala audience by surprise. Holly plays cello and piano and won “Outstanding Senior” for both instruments! She entertained the crowd playing Chopin’s Nocturne in C Sharp Minor on cello; a piano solo; a piano duet with Jessica Neudorf; and joined three other pianists dressed in the finest Mozart costumes for the finale ensemble performance ‘two pianos~8 hands’. Holly received six awards at the Gala: two in Strings and four in Piano.
The Rotary Clubs’ “Best of the Festival” awards in each category went to the following: Paige Tower for Voice presented by Warne Lynd, President of Salmon Arm Rotary Club; Libby Wyse for Strings presented by Fred Goodman, Director of Shuswap Rotary Club; and Andrew Stoney for Piano presented by Peter Du Toit, Director of Rotary Club of Salmon Arm, Daybreak.
Dr. Melany Dyer of the Shuswap Community Foundation announced the eight candidates recommended to advance to the Performing Arts BC Provincial Festival. They are: Stephen Moore (Junior A Piano); Grace Neudorf (Intermediate Piano); Andrew Stoney (Senior Piano); Anna Konrad (Junior A Strings); Georgia Nitchie (Jr. Classical Voice); Paige Tower (Intermediate Classical Voice); Jenae VanGameren (Senior Classical Voice); and Destinee Trentalance (Jr. Musical Theatre). In addition to these eight candidates, four other Shuswap Festival contestants, who were recommended at other festivals to attend the 2016 Provincial Festival, will join them. They are: Aria Izik-Dzurko (Piano); Libby Wyse (Strings); Jessica Neudorf (Piano); and Holly McCallum (Strings and Piano). This is an outstanding contingent to represent the Shuswap at the Provincial Festival in late May.
The Festival adjudicators this year were Peter Stigings, Band; Jane Hayes, Senior Piano; Yvette Rowledge, Jr. Piano; Don James, Vocal and Choir; and Joel Stobbe, Strings. They chose the recipients for all awards and scholarships including the following:
BAND AWARDS: Presented by June Stewart, SASCU Best Elementary/Middle School Band: Shuswap Middle School Gr 8 Concert Band Best Secondary School Concert Band: Jackson Concert Band Best Jazz Band: Sullivan Jazz Band
STRINGS AWARDS: BCRMTA Shuswap Branch Awards ~ Presented by President, Jane Hein to Robyn de Wet and Holly McCallum Outstanding Junior: Anya Massa Outstanding Intermediate/Senior: Holly McCallum Intermediate/Senior String Ensemble: Anna & Simone Konrad Concert Class: Libby Wyse
Graded Strings Scholarships
Pre-Grade 1: Jack McChesney Grade 1: Kelsey Phillips Grade 2: Autumn Sunderland Grade 3: Aidan Chan Grade 5: Isabel Hladych Grade 6: Simone Konrad Grade 7: Robyn de Wet Grade 8: Anna Konrad Grade 9: Anastasia Martens
PIANO AWARDS: BCRMTA Shuswap Branch Awards ~ Presented by President, Jane Hein Junior: Jacob Huntington / Intermediate: Hilary Vukadinovic Senior: Teslyn Bates / Advanced Senior: Aria Izik-Dzurko Outstanding Junior: Jonathan Breugem Outstanding Intermediate: Ashley Nicks Outstanding Senior: Holly McCallum Junior Duet: Matthew Neudorf & Jonathan Breugem Senior Duet/Trio/Quartet (Gr 7&8): Robyn de Wet & Eva Mosher Advanced Sr. Duet/Trio/Quartet (Gr 9-ARCT): Jessica Neudorf & Holly McCallum Junior/Intermediate Concert Class: Micah Lichti Piano Ensembles Awards Presented by Patty Munro, Salmar Community Association 2 Pianos 4 or 6 Hands Ensemble: Jessica Neudorf & Holly McCallum 2 Piano 8 Hands Ensemble: Holly McCallum, Robyn de Wet, Eva Mosher, Jessica Neudorf
Graded Piano Scholarships Pre-Grade 1: Jace Mortenson Grade 1: Mira Shaw Grade 2: Calia Mortenson Grade 3: Matthew Neudorf Grade 4: Jacob Huntington Grade 5: Zachary Naish Grade 6: Aleta Lu Grade 7: Julianne Moore Grade 8: Benjamin Sui Grade 9: Stephen Moore Grade 10: Aria Izik-Dzurko ARCT: Grace Neudorf
The Festival and these awards are only possible through the generous donations and support of the community. Volunteers make it all happen. At the Gala, the Directors of the Shuswap Music Festival Society were pleased to honour Past President and founding member, Jeff den Biesen, for his dedicated service and more than a decade of commitment to the Festival as President. He helped to build a legacy for the community. The Society thanks all the Rotarians and community members for their many volunteer hours; the generosity of the sponsors and donors; and a special thank you to Rod Charlebois, the Master of Ceremony for the Gala Concert.
Thank You and Congratulations to all the musicians and vocalists, young and old, who participated in the Festival.
Submitted by Sue Wolff
Shuswap Music Festival Society
Rotary Clubs “Best of the Fest”: Andrew Stoney
BCRMTA Shuswap Branch Awards ~ Junior: Jacob Huntington / Intermediate: Hilary Vukadinovic
Senior: Teslyn Bates / Advanced Senior: Aria Izik-Dzurko
Outstanding Junior: Jonathan Breugem
Outstanding Intermediate: Ashley Nicks
Outstanding Senior: Holly McCallum
Junior Duet: Matthew Neudorf & Jonathan Breugem
Senior Duet/Trio/Quartet (Gr 7&8): Robyn de Wet & Eva Mosher
Advanced Sr. Duet/Trio/Quartet (Gr 9-ARCT): Jessica Neudorf & Holly McCallum
Junior/Intermediate Concert Class: Micah Lichti
Piano Ensembles Awards
2 Pianos 4 or 6 Hands Ensemble: Jessica Neudorf & Holly McCallum
2 Piano 8 Hands Ensemble: Holly McCallum, Robyn de Wet, Eva Mosher, Jessica Neudorf
Graded Piano Scholarships:
Pre-Grade 1: Jace Mortenson
Grade 1: Mira Shaw
Grade 2: Calia Mortenson
Grade 3: Matthew Neudorf
Grade 4: Jacob Huntington
Grade 5: Zachary Naish
Grade 6: Aleta Lu
Grade 7: Julianne Moore
Grade 8: Benjamin Sui
Grade 9: Stephen Moore
Grade 10: Aria Izik-Dzurko
ARCT: Grace Neudorf
VOICE AND CHOIR AWARDS:
Rotary Clubs “Best of the Fest”: Paige Tower
Outstanding Junior Classical: Evje Knutson
Outstanding Intermediate Classical: Destinee Trentalance
Outstanding Senior Classical: Jenae VanGameren
Junior Musical Theatre: Josiah Trentalance
Intermediate Musical Theatre: Destinee Trentalance
Best Junior Vocal Ensemble: Siera & Saige Dubyna
Best Intermediate Vocal Ensemble: Destinee & Josiah Trentalance
Best Adult Choir: Shuswap Men’s Chorus
BAND AWARDS:
Best Elementary/Middle School Band: Shuswap Middle School Gr 8 Concert Band
Best Secondary School Concert Band: Jackson Concert Band
Best Jazz Band: Sullivan Jazz Band
STRINGS AWARDS:
Rotary Clubs “Best of the Fest”: Libby Wyse
BCRMTA Shuswap Branch Awards: Robyn de Wet and Holly McCallum
Outstanding Junior: Anya Massa
Outstanding Intermediate/Senior: Holly McCallum
Intermediate/Senior String Ensemble: Anna & Simone Konrad
Concert Class: Libby Wyse
Graded Strings Scholarships:
Pre-Grade 1: Jack McChesney
Grade 1: Kelsey Phillips
Grade 2: Autumn Sunderland
Grade 3: Aidan Chan
Grade 5: Isabel Hladych
Grade 6: Simone Konrad
Grade 7: Robyn de Wet
Grade 8: Anna Konrad
Grade 9: Anastasia Martens
BLAIR BORDEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Jenae VanGameren (Vocal, )Emily Wark & Andrew Stoney (Piano)
MARY FOWLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Excellence in Classical Voice ~ Paige Tower
PROVINCIAL RECOMMENDATIONS:
PIANO
Junior A Piano: Stephen Moore (Competitor), Intermediate Piano: Grace Neudorf (Competitor), Senior Piano: Andrew Stoney (Competitor)
Peter Stigings B.Ed., M.Ed., has been involved in Music Education for 52 years. He has taught at the elementary, secondary and post secondary levels. He has served as an adjudicator, conductor, evaluator and workshop clinician throughout Canada, USA and Hong Kong. He has directed bands, choirs, orchestras and jazz ensembles and is known as a master teacher. His ensembles have toured extensively throughout Canada, as well as the USA, Europe, Hawaii and Japan. In 1999, he was awarded the prestigious Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. He recently retired as Faculty Advisor and Sessional Lecturer at both the University of Victoria and the University of British Columbia. At the present time he is the Musical Director of “A Little Night Music Orchestra”, a 70-piece community orchestra.
Congratulations to all the participants in the festival and to the remarkable work done by the adjudicators: Don Bennett, Bands; Muge Buyukcelen, Strings; Matt Hill, Voice; Darlene Brigadear, Jr. Piano; and Anne Wilson Unger, Sr. Piano.
Award recipients by discipline:
PIANO AWARDS:
Best of the Festival for Piano: Stephen Moore
BCRMTA Shuswap Branch Awards ~ Junior: Aleta Lu and Nadya Henrie;
Intermediate: Connor Levins & Jessica Neudorf; and Senior: Ashley Fong
Outstanding Junior: Aleta Lu
Outstanding Intermediate: Jennika Bobryk
Outstanding Senior: Aria Izik-Dzurko
Junior Duet: Calia Mortenson & Gerogia Rands
Intermediate Duet: Hilary & Samantha Vukadinovic
Senior Duet/Trio/Quartet: Robyn de Wet, Holly McCallum, Eva Mosher, Jessica Neudorf
Junior/Intermediate Concert Class: Katie Wall
Junior/Intermediate Composition: Anna Biernacki
Senior Concert Class: Hannah Bennison
Senior Composition Award: Holly McCallum
2 Pianos 4 or 6 Hands Ensemble: Holly McCallum & Jessica Neudorf
Sr 2 Piano Ensemble: Ashley Fong, Elena Bruns, Rebecca McDonald, Lara May McCallum
Graded Piano Scholarships:
Pre-Grade 1: Mira Shaw
Grade 2: Jonathan Breugem
Grade 3: Eric Moore
Grade 4: Tessa Elliot
Grade 5: Julianne Moore
Grade 6: Teslyn Bates
Grade 7: Eva Mosher
Grade 8: Rachel Bates
Grade 9: Jessica Brown
Grade 10: Lara May McCallum
ARCT: Elena Bruns
VOICE AWARDS:
Best of the Festival for Voice: Mairead Raupach
Pre-Grade One Vocal Scholarship: Evje Knutson
Outstanding Junior Classical: Siera Dubyna
Outstanding Intermediate Classical: Destinee Trentalance
Outstanding Senior Classical: Spencer Christensen
Junior Musical Theatre: Adelynn Heyes
Intermediate Musical Theatre: Paige Tower
Senior Musical Theatre: Sidney Cummings
Best Intermediate Vocal Ensemble: Dubyna Sisters (Saige, Siera, Sheyanne & Salena)
MARY FOWLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP for Excellence in Classical Voice: Spencer Christensen
CHORAL AWARDS:
Best Youth Choir: North Okanagan-Shuswap Honor Children’s Choir
Best Adult Choir: Shuswap Men’s Chorus
Best Ensemble: Ancora Women’s Ensemble
BAND AWARDS:
Best Elementary/Middle School Band: Shuswap Middle School Gr 8 Concert Band
Best Secondary School Concert Band: Salmon Arm Secondary Gr 9 Concert Band
Best Jazz Band: Salmon Arm Secondary Jazz Band
STRINGS AWARDS:
Best of the Festival for Strings: Anna Konrad
Outstanding Junior: Nadya Henrie
Outstanding Intermediate: Holly McCallum
Intermediate Ensemble: Anna & Simone Konrad
Concert Class: Holly McCallum
Graded Strings Scholarships:
Pre-Grade 1: Anya Massa
Grade 1: Cheyanne Haak
Grade 5: Simone Konrad
Grade 8: Libby Wyse
BLAIR BORDEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Lara May McCallum.
PROVINCIAL RECOMMENDATIONS for the BC Provincial Music Festival, May 26-30, 2015 at Powell River, BC:
PIANO Junior Piano: Aria Izik-Dzurko (Competitor), Stephen Moore (Observer)
STRINGS Junior A: Holly McCallum (Competitor), Anna Konrad (Observer)
SPEECH ARTS as a new discipline. Check the syllabus for details.The study of Speech Arts develops confident and effective communication skills while training the speaking voice. It includes an array of public speaking, presentation skills, voice production, diction and articulation. Speech Arts helps develop a student’s ability to speak with ease and clarity. At the Festival, students will perform memorized pieces of poetry, prose and/or plays for professional feedback from a Speech Arts adjudicator.
GRADE 9 STRINGS to the Strings discipline.
[themify_button style=”large rect” color=”#EC008C” link=”https://shuswapfestival.com/registration/syllabus-2/” text=”#ffffff” ]View the Syllabus[/themify_button]
Get your tickets for your chance to win a beautiful painting by local artist and music teacher, Lou Conron. Proceeds for this fund-raiser support the 16th Annual Shuswap Music Festival. Tickets are available from Board members. Watch for sales at various community outlets and Piccadilly Mall. Draw to be made at the Gala Concert, April 29th 2016. Your support is gratefully appreciated!
Born and raised in Prince George, BC, Joel Stobbe was active in the local music scene with music festivals and orchestras. Since then, he has received his Artistic Diploma of Music Performance from the Augsburg Conservatory of Music in Germany, regularly performing as soloist and with chamber groups in Germany, France and Italy. Upon his return to Canada, Joel was a founding member of the Borealis String Quartet (2000-2005). He toured with the quartet, giving performances throughout Canada and the United States, with frequent broadcasts on radio and television. In addition to regular quartet activities, Joel enjoyed giving educational concerts and masterclasses together with the quartet to young people from Dawson City to New York City.
Joel was the Principal Cellist of the Vancouver Island Symphony from 2006-2014, and artistic director of its Noteworthy Kids program from 2012-2014. During this time he continued to be active as both a soloist and chamber musician in regular recitals and concerts. Joel is currently a cello teacher at the Langley Community Music School where he holds a substantial class of private cello students and serves as coordinator for LCMS’s advanced progams. In 2014, Joel expanded his career to conduct the Surrey Youth Orchestra and to serve as its Artistic Director. In addition to his busy teaching, administrative and conducting schedule, Joel enjoys regular adjudicating, teaching masterclasses and summer chamber music programs. He lives in Langley, BC, with his wife and 7 year old son, to whom he hopes to pass down his life-long hobby of classic automotive restoration.
Ginny-Lou Alexander has loved poetry ever since she was a little girl. She used to save every poem she found in newspapers, magazines, and Sunday school papers. She grew up in central Alberta and as a youngster entered the Wood River Festival, an experience she enjoyed very much.
Ginny-Lou has been coaching students in Speech Arts for 25 years, in the Christian school, public schools and in her private studio. She finds that it is very rewarding work, seeing people gain performance abilities, confidence and self-esteem as a result of presenting their art on the stage.
Many of her students have gone on to represent her home festival (100 Mile Festival of the Arts) at the Provincial Festival.
Ginny-Lou continues to live and work in 100 Mile House. Besides maintaining a busy piano/vocal/speech arts studio, she is active as a lay missionary with the Cariboo Presbyterian Church.
