Performers ready to take stage for Fine Arts Festival

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Published on Friday, March 31, 2017

By Kate Jackman-Atkinson

The Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

As performers are putting the final polish on their performances, the organizers of the 51st annual Neepawa and District Fine Arts Festival are setting the stage. Taking place April 6-8 at Knox Presbyterian Church, in Neepawa, the event offers singers and pianists a chance to hone their skills, have some fun and possibly win some scholarships.

Cheryl Beaumont, a member of the festival’s executive, says that this year’s festival has 146 entries. This number is down from last year, but she explains that last year’s festival had 22 graduating students who didn’t return this year.

The festival offers a lot of benefits to the participants.\ Beaumont explains that they get the opportunity to perform in front of an audience of friends and family, pianists get the chance to perform on a grand piano, choirs get the chance to sing with friends in their hometown and multigenerational piano duets allows the whole family to participate. 

Participants also receive valuable feedback from an experienced adjudicator. 

This year’s adjudicator is Leanne Regehr Lee, who is a graduate of University of Manitoba and currently maintains a full and active piano teaching studio in Winnipeg. Beaumont explains that she also works with many professional and amateur groups and is on the faculty at the Rosamunde Summer Music Academy.

Many participants will come to the festival for multiple years, which gives all those involved in the festival the experience of seeing the young performers grow. “As a mother, I started by watching the older kids play their advanced piano pieces and was in awe of their abilities. Now, my daughters are the older kids playing more difficult pieces! It is nice to see the children gain more confidence and memorize their pieces,” said Beaumont.

The festival is open to spectators, who can come and watch the end result of the performers’ hard work.\ The musicians have spent hours practicing to perfect their pieces and Beaumont explains, “It’s a showcase of talent and music students who are wanting to improve by playing in public and being adjudicated.”

This year’s executive is made up of Rhonda Dickensen, Cheryl Beaumont, Kim Chapman, Judy Elgert, Sandra Weibe, Angie Tester, Carolyn Payjack, Cindy Kwiakowski, Sylvie Tomoniko, Carolyn Durston, Kim Smith and Sharon Smyth.\

Beaumont explains that the size of the executive was doubled this year, from six to 12 members. She adds that long-time board member Carolyn Durston, who has been on the committee since the 1980s, has spent the last year training new committee members, answering many emails, phone calls and hosting many planning sessions at her kitchen table. “She is passionate about music and has readily shared her expertise to pass on that passion to the community! She has been our mentor every step of the way!” explained Beaumont.

The evening concerts will showcase the festival’s scholarship winners. Beaumont explains that scholarships have been collected from many community based organizations, as well as donations made by individuals. “We are appreciative of the support from the community - donations from organizations and Friends of the Festival [donors] are important to allow the festival to give scholarships and to also pay for costs to allow the festival to continue,” she said.