LIVERPOOL - It’s that time of year again, when young musicians are getting their vocal cords and fingers ready to participate in the 73rd annual Queens County Music Festival.
Students aged five to Grade 12 are invited to register for any of the music festival classes in vocal, instrumental or piano categories by Jan. 22.
For students in private lessons, entry fees remain the same as last year and will be collected by the private music teachers. Vocal students are to make accompaniment arrangements with their private teachers.
For all students in Primary to Grade 5 who do not have a private vocal coach and wish to enter the set solo class, the fee is $12. This fee will include the cost of accompaniment. Elementary school music teachers will collect the entry fees and register any students.
Volunteer festival president Charmaine Stevens says there are typically over 400 performances during the week, including piano, voice, instruments and groups of bands and choirs. Many of the students, she says, have performed every year from Primary to Grade 12.
Stevens says the experience is great for youth. Not only do students gain confidence by performing in front of an audience, they also get a sense of pride in their accomplishments. Plus, she says, it gives them an opportunity to perform at the wonderful Astor Theatre venue.
All musicians receive an adjudication from a trained music adjudicator who is brought in from another area, explains Stevens. They receive a mark and constructive comments.
Volunteers essential
The Queens County Music Festival is run by over 70 volunteers. Stevens said her volunteer role with the festival began eight years ago, when she stared volunteering at the door and for the awards night as two of her children were participating in the festival.
“The festival needed volunteers to step up to the executive and I was approached by some members and asked if I would consider helping out,” says Stevens.
Now, she is in her final year of being president, moving into the past-president role next year. The committee is always looking for more volunteers and can contact Stevens at [email protected] for more information.
Music festival volunteers in the area are renowned for their abilities. Last year, says Dr. Christianne Rushton, president of the Federation of Music Festivals of Nova Scotia, the Provincial Music Festival was held in Liverpool and was a great success.
“A very big reason for that success was the fantastic team of the Liverpool Music Festival committee. The volunteers were amazing,” she says.
This year’s Queens County Music Festival runs from April 27 to May 6.
Find out more at https://www.facebook.com/QueensCountyMusicFestival/
