More than 200,000 young central Alberta performers have expanded their skills and confidence by participating in the Red Deer Festival for the Performing Arts since it was started in 1964.
On May 26, the festival will throw a 60th anniversary celebration to share some of this local talent with the wider community. A showcase concert will be held at 2 p.m. on the Red Deer Polytechnic main stage, with entry by donation and a reception to follow.
Festival organizers say they are hoping to see many new and familiar faces at this event. "We would love to celebrate with past and present performers, teachers, volunteers and donors," said Judy Robins Weir, a member of the festival's board of directors.
Last month about 1,460 performers from ages six to 18 participated in Voice, Speech Arts, Choir, Piano, Musical Theatre, Strings, Woodwind, Band and Orchestra categories in this year's Festival It ran at Sunnybrook United Church on April 15 and 16, and at RDP April 22- 25.
The young participants all received a professional evaluation from adjudicators, as well as tips on improving their skills. Stand-out performers were awarded with prizes and scholarships totalling about $10,000. Top musicians will get a chance to play with the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra next season, and a few performers will advance to the provincial festival, held at Grant MacEwan University starting on May 27.
Robins Weir and festival director Ruston Vuori both took part in what was once known as the Kiwanis Music Festival as young musicians years ago. (While the service club is still a great supporter of the festival, it became an independent entity about a decade ago to qualify for more grants and fundraising opportunities).
Vuori recalled his own festival experience was a chance to flex his performance muscles for family and friends — and also to hear fellow musicians play. The professional pianist knows that music can be a solitary pursuit, so he feels the festival is a great way to make connections with others who share the same passion.
Robins Weir said she is heartened whenever she sees young band members stay to hear other bands play after their own performance is over.
Some of these amateurs grow up to become professional performers — "We don't know if k.d lang was ever in the Kiwanis festival," added a chuckling Robins Weir of central Alberta's most famous performer.
Although most of the young participants don't end up choosing music as their career, many continue to nurtured their talents in community bands or with local theatre groups. Robins Weir believes the event "is a huge confidence booster," regardless of whether music becomes a mainstay.
Vuori is happy to see participation in the festival bounce back after the pandemic. For the first time since 1964 there was no festival held in 2020 and the event went online only in 2021. Although some performers still send in virtual performances, the festival is mostly back to being a live event.
It takes more than 50 volunteers to pull off such a major undertaking, so Robins Weir is grateful some volunteers come back every year. They are needed to record the adjudicators remarks, to direct students to the right rooms and venues, and to fill other roles.
"I'm just so excited about something that has persisted so long, giving children an opportunity to perform," she added.
Robins Weir and Vuori are looking forward to filling seats at RDP's Main stage with friends, family and community members for the May 26 celebration concert by student performers and festival alumni. Entertainment will also be provided by The Parkland Jazz Trio, with Eric Allison, Ricardo Villacorta and Rainier McKee.