Staff
The Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts will wrap up its 2013 event with the annual “highlights” concert this Sunday (May 3).
Slated for 2 p.m. at the Townshend Theatre, the concert will feature some of this year’s star performances from the three weeks the festival ran in April.
Three Rose Bowl winners also will be honoured Sunday.
Organizers noted this year’s Festival was another success.
“The Festival ran very smoothly,” said committee chair Joleen Beninger.
Despite a lower number of participants this year, she still was pleased with the level of involvement.
“I think there were some circumstances outside of our control this year,” Beninger noted, citing specifically the strike action against Bill 115 taken by teachers, which saw them halt extra-curricular activities, as well as the state of the local economy.
“But all in all, we had three busy weeks of talented performances,” she enthused.
Beninger said she was pleased with the five adjudicators who provided valuable comments to the participants.
“I received a lot of positive feedback from the community, parents, and performers,” she remarked.
The adjudicators were Nancy Nowosad of Winnipeg (piano), David Klassen of Steinbach (vocal), John Dutton of Fort Frances (instrumental), Trevor Barker of Fort Frances (English drama) and Jacques Fafard of Kenora (French drama).
Barker stepped up at the last minute when the scheduled adjudicator, Ryan McMahon, withdrew the day before the start of the drama portion of the Festival.
“We have a wonderful committee made of members who are all committed to the continued success of the performing arts in our community,” Beninger remarked.
She thanked all the volunteers and those who offered donations, the participants for their hard work in preparing for the Festival, and the parents for all their support.
Performers scheduled to appear during the “highlights” concert include Christian Wiedenhoeft, Katelyn Bruyere, Sadie Tolton, Brianna Eldridge, Janissa Judson, Tianna Veldhuisen, Alexis Latter, Cassidy Martin, John Jankiewicz, Alexa Veldhuisen, Hannah Veldhuisen, Taylor Shouldice, Kennedy Latimer, Scott Jolicoeur, Joyce Wu, and Paige and Jordan Eldridge,
Also slated to perform are Mackenzie Wright, Mika Kooistra, Callahan Wiedenhoeft, Kaylyn Levesque, Emily Loney, Jenaya DeBenetti, Lauryn Marchant, Emma Dykstra, Kaitlyn Chiasson, Ken Brown, Sara Gall, Anna Schwartz, Andrew Eldridge, Joelle Bruyere, and Lorianne Dueck.
The St. Francis School Junior Choir (Grades 4-6), Crossroads School (Grade 6), and Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program are set to take the stage, as well.
“I think festivals are a good way for the community to come together to promote positive learning, and I am looking very forward to the ‘highlights’ concert,” said Beninger.
“I would like to invite the public to come out and see the amazing cross-section of talent that we have here in the Rainy River District.”
Admission to the “highlights” concert is $3, with kids 12 and under being free.
