4 minute read
Wendy Brook
Speech Arts Usher In Festival
Rosanne Fortier - News Correspondent
Students’ clear and cheerful voices commenced the 46th Annual Wendy Brook Music Festival on March 3 at A.L. Horton School.
Grades One to Four Classes from A.L. Horton School were the English Choral Speech Groups on stage first. Adjudicator Mhairi Berg praised the younger students for doing a great job, having great focus, and being good at storytelling.
For the older students, Berg admitted that she loved the energy they had, and their pieces were well-memorized. They had great work on the timing of the phrases, and she loved the work they used on the ranges of their voices.
On March 6, the Ukrainian Choral Speech Groups, Duets, and Solos blossom with performances that announced spring, while others had cultural themes.
Adjudicator for the Ukrainian performances Melody Kostiuk said they all seemed to enjoy what they did, were good at memorizing the words, and did a wonderful job!
Chair Larissa Bombak explained that the Wendy Brook Music Festival Association is a non-profit organization that hosts an annual adjudicated music and speech arts festival for all ages in March. Their festival de-emphasizes competition in favour of providing a supportive venue for performers of all ages. Adjudicators provide constructive comments and advice.
“The Wendy Brook Music Festival allows our youth and adults to develop their vocal and instrumental skills, confidence, audience appreciation skills, and love of the arts.
Entries include: Vocal (singing, choir, musical theatre), Piano, Strings, Instrumental (recorders, hand chimes, wind and brass instruments), Band, Speech Arts (choral, poetry, readings, public speaking, Reader’s Theatre, skits), Ukrainian Language (vocal and speech).
The total number of entries this year was 271,” Bombak added.
Performing with Instruments Develops People's Talents
Rosanne Fortier - News Correspondent
The audience could listen to piano pieces with a catchy melody, while in contrast, other performances had a smoothing sound at the piano entries at the Wendy Brook Music Festival at St. John’s Lutheran Church on March 4 and 5.
The Adjudicator, Katherine Tilbury, for the piano pieces, expressed that they all did a beautiful job. They had excellent timing and good rhythm.
On the morning of March 10, the violin, guitar, strings, and cello entries were uplifting and harmonically rich when featured at Vegreville Alliance Church.
This event closed with an accordion piece with a wide dynamic range of pleasant and rhythmic sounds.
Adjudicator Tom Spila, said the violin performers did nice memory work, had strong tone and wonderful sound, maintained accurate playing, and did a great job overall.
For the guitar performances, Spila commented that they had good song choices, attention to detail, performed a good job connecting notes, excellent dynamics, and a nice tone.
Spila mentioned that the accordion player had a wonderful tone, was accurate, and did a fine performance.
Growing Vocals of Aspiring Musicians
Rosanne Fortier - News Correspondent
The charming voices of the A.L. Horton Ukrainian Classes, with groups, duets, and solos, were the first singers at the Ukrainian Vocal Performances at the Wendy Brook Music Festival on March 6.
Adjudicator for Ukrainian Performances Melody Kostiuk said they issued entertaining pieces, remembered all the words, and did a wonderful job.
In the afternoon of March 6, the English vocal performers appeared at Vegreville United Church Sanctuary with their lovely voices.
Adjudicator Mireille Rijavec commented that the groups did great work! She loved how they memorized their songs, sang with good energy, and worked well together.
Rijavec expressed that the solo vocalists did well, had clear voices, and were expressive and confident performers.
In the evening, the Vocal Ensembles and Musical Theatre performers showcased their pieces, and their polished performances impressed the audience.
Rijavec stated that they were confident, expressive, and sounded great. With the acting, she said they were good at being in their characters.
