Howe Sound will ring once again next month with the sound of talented local musicians - and this year the winners at the Howe Sound Music Festival will be going places.
After three successful years in the Sea to Sky corridor, the festival, presented by the Howe Sound Arts Association (HSAA), has become a member of the Performing Arts B.C.'s Association of Regional Festivals as of October 2003.
According to festival co-ordinator Colleen Koop, this is an honour not given out easily. This added bonus gives local students an opportunity to be nominated to represent our festival and to perform with thousands of other young performing artists throughout B.C. in June at the University of Victoria.
This year's festival opens with an exciting concert at the Eagle Eye Community Theatre. Pavlo: Mediterranean Magic, presented by HSAA takes place on Friday, Apr. 2 at 8 p.m.
On Saturday, Apr. 3 voice students are given an opportunity to share their talents adjudicated by Squamish singer and educator Veronica McPhee. McPhee has a Bachelor of Music (1994) from the University of Victoria. She has been a soprano soloist with the University of Victoria Chorus and Orchestra, the Cowichan Consort, the Nanaimo Symphony Orchestra, and the Courtenay Youth Music Centre Orchestra. Moving to Squamish in 2000 Veronica shares her musical wealth as a music educator in Squamish and has been director of the Sea to Sky Singers since September 2003.
On Sunday, Apr. 4 choral voices from Squamish and Whistler will have an opportunity to sing and workshop with Larry Nickel of Abbotsford. Nickel will wear a second hat as he will then workshop with the bands on Monday, Apr. 5. Nickel earned a Master of Music degree from the University of Western Washington in 1981 and is currently earning a Doctorate in Music Composition at UBC. He is actively involved as a clinician and an adjudicator at music festivals for both bands and choirs. Nickel is currently on sabbatical leave from MEI of Abbotsford where he has developed the band and choral programs for over 25 years.
From Apr. 13 to 17 piano students from Squamish right through to Pemberton will have an opportunity to play for adjudicator Michael Oike of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Oike maintains piano teaching studios at the Winnipeg and Steinbach branches of the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts, is heard in performances of chamber music and as vocal and instrumental accompanist, conducts piano and pedagogy workshops and master classes, serves as music festival adjudicator, and has played in the keyboard section for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra.
In order to make the festival accessible for everyone, two locations are offered this year. In Squamish the HSAA grand piano will be moved to the Squamish Baptist Church which will allow four full days of classes. In Whistler the festival will be held at Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church for two full days.
On Sunday, Apr. 18 the highlights concert will feature all piano and voice recipients receiving a Gold Certificate performing in two or more classes. Our adjudicators will be on hand to listen to these performances one more time to make final selections for the Medal, Scholarship and Provincial Nominees.
The Awards Gala on Saturday, Apr. 24 will conclude the 2004 Festival. This concert will feature performances from Choral and Band, Piano and Vocal Medal, Scholarship and Provincial nominees.
