qathet’s got talent

You can catch John Hall on stage this winter at the Festival of Performing Arts

Locals of every age and background are invited to sing, dance, recite or play an instrument in the 79th Festival of Performing Arts

BY PIETA WOOLLEY

John Mayer spent his youth touring BC with The Deep Cove Singers. But for the last 25 years of his working life – mostly spent here behind the wheel of a logging truck – John barely sang at all. It was his rich, bass speaking voice that gave away his talent. After chatting with his neighbours Nancy and Alex Hollman at their shared mailboxes, the musical duo asked him to join their choir, the Barbershnappers.

“I always had a pretty good voice, for volume at least!” John admits. “But Nancy gave me singing lessons. That’s what really helped me develop it. That’s what got me singing properly.”

You can hear John sing Beautiful Dreamer and Oh What a Beautiful Morning, both solos, at the 79th Festival of Performing Arts. This isn’t his first event; he has performed there with both the Barberschnappers and Chor Musica.

The festival, which is coming up starting February 23, features many children and youth performers, but fewer adults. The Rotary Club of Powell River, which organizes the festival, hopes to attract more participation from folks like John – for the benefit of the event and the community.

“I am a bit of a natural born show off so that’s part of why I like to do the festival,” said John, who studies with Megan Skidmore now. “The choir is a great group of guys. Singing is something I enjoy and it energizes me.”

At the other extreme, John Hall didn’t sing at all until about 2016. “The only time you’d hear me is if I had a two-four and we were around the fire,” he quipped.

John Mayer will perform at the Festival of Performing Arts. Are you a performer? Register by January 24.

The veterinarian (and former owner of Powell River Veterinary Hospital) had a stroke in 2010; singing was part of his recovery. At the Academy of Music, Megan started giving him lessons. It sounded, he recalled, “like someone at the Academy put a cat in a bag and was swinging it around their head.”

“It starts small, like anything,” John said, promising that he did improve. “Megan said ‘I’d like you to be in the recital at end of year.’”

Soon enough he was singing with Chor Musica, and singing in the Festival.

This year, you can see John singing Moon River and When I Fall in Love.

Before he sang, John volunteered on the Festival committee when Rotary took it over in 2003. At the time, he recalls, many more adults and seniors took part – something he would like to revive.

FESTIVAL OF PERFORMING ARTS

When: February 23 to March 3 – but the registration deadline is January 24

What: This Rotary Club-run festival is a chance for local performers to practice their art, and be adjudicated by professionals. The top acts go on to perform at the Grand Concert March 3, and may be recommended to represent the region at Provincials this spring.

Learn more and register: events.solarislive.com/prfestival

|| pieta@prliving.ca