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The top performers from this year’s Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts took to the stage last Tuesday evening at the Townshend Theatre to showcase their talents during the annual “highlights” concert.
The most prestigious awards—the coveted Rose Bowls—were presented to Katelyn Bruyere (intrumental), Mira Donaldson (drama), Brianna Eldridge (piano), and Anne Jean (vocal).
“It’s exciting because I’ve played piano since I was five or six years old,” enthused Eldridge.
“So working that hard for something and achieving that is pretty exciting.”
“I’m really honoured, humbled, and thankful,” echoed Jean, who admitted earning the Rose Bowl this year was something she didn’t expect.
“There was a lot going on this year and I was just piling stuff on myself to try to prepare myself for school,” she noted.
For instance, while the Festival was going on, Jean also was preparing for a lead role in Fort High’s production of “Ghost: The Musical” that was staged May 4-7.
Jean, the only graduating student among the four Rose Bowl winners, will be attending Western University in London, Ont. this fall to study vocal performance and education.
Bruyere, Eldridge, and Donaldson, on the other hand, only are finishing up Grade 9. And the multi-talented trio all have plans to vie for Rose Bowls in different divisions in the coming years.
“Next year I might go for the instrumental Rose Bowl,” said Donaldson, who not only took home the drama Rose Bowl but also several awards in both the piano and instrumental divisions.
“I do find it challenging,” she admitted about working on so many disciplines.
“But I really like the challenge so it doesn’t seem like a lot of work.”
While those in music lessons have their teachers’ expertise to draw on, drama is a division that doesn’t offer a lot of coaching.
Donaldson, however, landed some private drama lessons over the Christmas break from professionals in San Fransico and Las Vegas.
“I think that really boosted my confidence and helped me get out of my shell,” she enthused, noting she also spent some time on her own, with the help of her mom and dad, preparing her drama pieces for the Festival.
“I was actually kind of surprised because I thought someone older would have gotten it, but I was really happy,” Donaldson added.
Bruyere said winning the instrumental Rose Bowl also came as a surprise to her.
“I was up against so many wonderful players,” she remarked, noting she began playing the violin when she was eight years old.
“It means a lot to me because even though people say Grade 9 is such a crazy year, I was able to focus and do well, so I was really proud of that,” Bruyere reasoned.
For future performers in the Festival, the Rose Bowl winners offered up some advice—stressing that being prepared is key.
“Be well-prepared because then you don’t have extra nerves,” said Eldridg, noting she wasn’t nervous as she competed in five compulsory classes.
“I would advise lots of practice because practice is important, and to not worry to much about how things are going to play out,” suggested Bruyere.
She noted when people get nervous, their performance can suffer, so they just should play as if they were playing for their teacher.
Bruyere added whether someone wins the Rose Bowl or not, the preparation is very helpful in getting ready for music examinations.
“Just think of it as an
experience to improve yourself,” reasoned Jean. “It’s a great thing to work towards whether you get it or not.
“It’s about the preparation and the work you put into it.”
The “highlights” concert wrapped up the 2016 Festival, which ran for three weeks in April. Organizers noted this year’s edition once again was a success.
“Things really went well,” said committee chair Dave Schwartz, noting there were many outstanding performances in all four divisions.
“I believe the Festival is an important part of our community,” he stressed.
“It allows participants to grow in many ways,” he noted. “Performing in front of an audience and an adjudicator takes a certain amount of fortitude that can only be developed be being there and doing it. . . .
“Sweaty palms make playing an instrument difficult, and pounding hearts make breathing patterns hard to follow for drama, vocal, and instrumental pieces,” he added.
“Participants learn new skills that will serve them in many other aspects of life and their confidence in themselves will grow for having done it,” Schwartz reasoned.
He thanked all of this year’s Festival participants, parents, teachers, accompanists, coaches, and audience members, as well as the venues, volunteers, donors, and sponsors.
He also was appreciative of the adjudicators, Sarah Hall (vocal), Melanie Whyte (drama), Andrea Coyle (French drama), Jane Petroni (piano), and Nancy Nowosad (instrumental), who offered praise, advice, and encouragement to the local performers.
