For the first time in the 60-year history of the Rainy River District Music and Drama Festival, adjudicators awarded Rose Bowls in all four categories, which were presented during the highlights concert Sunday afternoon at the Townshend Theatre.
Taking home Rose Bowls were Allison Webber of Atikokan (Piano), Angela Barron of Barwick (Instrumental), and Sarah Hebert of Fort Frances (Vocal).
Katie Pierroz, also of Fort Frances, captured the Rose Bowl for Drama, which was last awarded in 1994 to Jason Beyak.
Pierroz, 18, who last participated in the festival in 1992 in a dance category, plans to pursue dramatic theatre in her post-secondary studies in September.
“Right now, the Rose Bowl is sitting in our living room. I think I’m going to freeze dry one of the roses before they die,” she said Monday evening.
“I was very much not expecting [to win],” she added.
Hebert, 15, a four-year veteran of the festival, also was floored by her Rose Bowl.
“It was so surprising–they don’t have to give one out you know!” enthused Hebert, who also garnered top spot at “Quest for the Best” back in February.
“[The Rose Bowl] is in my room and my room smells sooo good!” she said.
Hebert added she plans to enter the festival again next year in the Rose Bowl alumni category, which is non-competitive.
Webber, 18, competing in the festival for the second year, likely won’t get the chance to enter the alumni class next April as she heads to Hamilton to pursue a career in health sciences in September.
“Winning the Rose Bowl is a real honour and it has to be given with good reason,” Mary Hickling, a member of the festival’s executive member, reiterated yesterday.
Festival president John Jankiewicz agreed. “There was some amazing talent and quality that was consistent throughout,” he noted Monday.
“Now we will be starting the cycle all over again next year,” he added.
New volunteers who helped with this year’s festival also were lauded by Jankiewicz, specifically the support of Marilyn Allan and Carol Lyons, who worked wonders with the syllabus and program, and Pam Brandrick, who designed a new logo.
“We had a lot of help. That plea I made back in September worked–they came out of the woodwork,” he enthused. “Maybe we will be able to encourage local artists to compete a little and come up with a fresh new [festival logo] every year.”
Meanwhile, Jankiewicz expected some good financial news was on the horizon for Festival 2001 but said he couldn’t elaborate for another month or two.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
