The Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts continues this week with 79 vocal performances over two days of competition today and Thursday at the Fort Frances Knox United Church.
Today’s session of vocal competitions included performances from the Cornerstone Christian School Grade 3/4 Choir and the Soaring Eagles Ensemble from St. John’s Ravenscourt School in Winnipeg.
“We are quite excited to have a group from out of town participating!” Festival Chairperson Marie Brady said in a press release.
Thursday’s vocal competition will run at 9:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Knox United. Admission is $3 per person or $20 for an all-festival pass.
The festival, now in its 84th year, began on March 26 and wraps up with a festival highlights concert at the Townshend Theatre on May 5, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with admission $5 at the door.
Over the past two weeks, the festival has held drama and speech arts competitions in Anishinaabemowin, English and French, the Anishinaabemowin session starting with a traditional opening prayer by Andrew Jourdain and was adjudicated by Roy Tom, an educator from Big Grassy First Nation.
The Anishinaabemowin division featured seven performances, including an adult hand-drumming group, followed by 14 English performances on March 31 and 17 French performances on April 2. Adjudicators for the latter were Robin Taylor Wright and Kim Anderson, both of Fort Frances.
Anishinaabemowin performances are non-competitive, so no results are published for them.
In partnership with the festival, the Arts and Culture Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program of Fort Frances High School (FFHS) also hosted a drama workshop for 10 students on April 1, facilitated by Taylor Wright.
allow for the High School to put on their musical, and with instrumental and piano classes taking place during the last week in April. The annual Festival Highlights concert is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Townshend Theatre. Admission for the Highlights Concert is $5 per person. – Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts photo
The festival is also offering a vocal workshop in partnership with the SHSM, facilitated by Winnipeg-based vocal adjudicator Judith Oatway on Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the high school open to all performers in the festival’s vocal division as well as cast members of the upcoming Hadestown musical and Arts and Culture SHSM students. Pre-registration is required, and those interested can send their name to rrdist.festival@gmail.com.
The festival will take a one-week hiatus next week during the run of the FFHS musical performance of Hadestown and continue with instrumental competitions on April 20 and piano competitions from April 22 to 24.
Spectators are welcome to all competitions. For more information, visit the festival website at www.ff-festival.com.
