Countdown on for the festival

With less than a week to go, excitement is growing for the start of the annual Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts.
Participants are honing their skills, warming up their voices, and putting on makeup in preparation for their moment in the spotlight.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” said John Jankiewicz, president of the festival committee. “The addition of the National Solo Class is going to be exciting.
“It’s the first time these classes have been offered,” he added.
The National Solo Class is available in piano, instrumental, and vocal classes, though this year there are only local participants who are eligible in piano.
At stake, explained Jankiewicz, are berths in the provincial final, adding that two girls in piano “have potential” to advance.
“We’ll have to wait and see,” he remarked last night.
The annual festival begins Monday (March 31) at 9 a.m. with the vocal music division at Knox United Church. Vocal performances will continue through April 2.
Instrumental performances then will run April 3-4, dance on April 5-6, piano from April 7-10, and drama on April 8-11.
“I’m personally looking forward to the choral speaking and monologue [performed by Fort High drama students],” Jankiewicz said. “There’s a whole morning of French choral speaking at St. Michael’s School, [too].
“When you get these young kids doing this speaking, it’s always a pleaser for the parents,” he added. “And the kids learn how to work together as a group.
“The dance should be as exciting as ever,” Jankiewicz enthused, noting both dance studios in Fort Frances and one from International Falls will be participating in the festival this year.
Jankiewicz said one of the more popular performances involves the choirs, which will be held April 1 at Sturgeon Creek School in Barwick due to entries from Rainy River.
“We have two choirs from Rainy River,” he noted. “It’s the first time in nine years to have Rainy River participation.”
Festival programs, detailing all the scheduling information, are available at public libraries across the district, Tammi’s Flower Garden in Fort Frances, Rainy River Drugs in Rainy River, and all schools.
The cost for a program is $2.
Also on the cover of the program is a picture by Linda Lovisa, which is doubling as the picture for the kids’ colouring contest. Jankiewicz said entry forms for the colouring contest can be obtained at district schools and public libraries.
Festival admission is $2 for individual sessions, or $20 for all sessions and all divisions. Children 12 and under are free.
“We have our highlights concert [on Sunday, April 13], the day after the centennial ball,” Jankiewicz noted, adding it’s part of the town’s centennial activities that weekend.
“We’re celebrating our 70th anniversary,” he said.
The highlights concert will start at 1:30 p.m. at the Townshend Theatre. Admission is $2 for individuals and $5 for a family.
Festival participants are vying for more than 40 individual and group awards as well as the prestigious Rose Bowls, which will be handed out at the highlights concert.
New to the festival this year is the use of some new locations. The Zion Lutheran Church and the drama room at Fort Frances High School will be used for the drama division.
“All venues are wheelchair accessible this year,” Jankiewicz said.
He also praised the supporters, organizers, and volunteers who helped with the gala concert held last month in conjunction with the town’s centennial celebrations, which was a fundraiser for the festival.
“The gala concert cleared about $1,800,” he said. “It helps make the festival go.”