The Nechako Valley Festival of the Performing Arts includes four disciplines of Speech Arts (poetry, drama, readings, choral readings), strings (violin), voice (classical voice and musical theatre, duets, trio’s) and piano (classical, diverse, duets, original compositions).
This festival is for those residing in Vanderhoof, Fort St James, Fort Fraser and Fraser Lake.
Adjudicators are brought in to work with the students and award those of high standing with various awards; those who the adjudicators feel are able to represent Vanderhoof in the Provincial competition will be advised that they qualify and may sign up to go. There are few chosen; each festival in the province has a certain number of seats that can be filled; therefore, being able to go is a privilege for our students here in a small town.
A bursary for graduating students is open to anyone who has participated in this festival over the years and who meets various criteria.
The public are very welcome to attend the festival, admission is by donation. The voice discipline is Friday April 20, from 9 a.m. at the Vanderhoof Christian Fellowship Church, the piano is Monday through Wednesday April 23-25, from 9 a.m. at the Vanderhoof Christian Fellowship Church.
There will be a workshop for parents, students and teachers called “Music Practice 101: The Four “S’s” presented by Mr Graham Yates, adjudicator of piano, MBA, MMus, BA. It will be held Wednesday evening, April 25, 6:30 p.m. at the Vanderhoof Christian Fellowship and is open to any and all who play any instrument and is by donation. The Nechako Valley Festival of the Performing Arts will be hosting this for the community.
The Festival Concert will be held at 2:30 p.m., Sunday April 29 at Vanderhoof Christian Fellowship. This concert includes those who have placed well; those who will receive awards, and those who place as candidates for the BC Festival of the Performing Arts Provincials Competition held in Nanaimo this year in the disciplines of Speech Arts, Strings, Voice and Piano. An award is also given for a deserving person or group in our community the Cynthia Davies Award for promoting the arts in Vanderhoof.
These awards will all be presented at the Concert, and are not known in advance.