Young musicians from John Paul II Collegiate Band performed last year during the Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival. (Submitted Photo/Amy Francais)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Music Fest

The 92nd annual Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival opens in two weeks

Apr 3, 2024 | 4:43 PM

Battlefords get ready, there’s music in the air.

The 92^nd annual Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival will open in two weeks, and it promises to make the spirit soar.

“It’s really awesome for the youth of the community to continue to have these opportunities go out and perform and show the world what they’ve got,” said festival president Kitty Morin.

This year, over 370 performances featuring people of all ages will take part in the long-standing tradition beginning April 15 in either band, vocal and piano categories and the gala performance featuring performance highlights on Tues., Apr. 30.

“Some of the bigger cities have bigger festivals, we do have quite a wonderful turn out,” Morin said of the event she called “a sharing of music.”

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While the majority of the performances will take place Kinsmen Band Hall, the larger bands will perform at the North Battleford Comprehensive High School and the vocal and piano performers will make music in the Third Avenue United Church before wrapping up the gala at the Dekker Centre.

The festival is a part of the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association and three adjudicators – experts in each of the disciplines – will guide the performers into a further understanding of their craft.

“There are some awards, but they’re awarded by the adjudicator based on the merit that they see in the…performers,” she said.

The repertoire will include noted selections in several different genres from jazz, baroque, music theatre to spoken word, classical and folk.

“I would really like the tradition to continue, I think it is an amazing opportunity for the community itself and especially the youth of our community to be able to engage in the arts this way,” Morin said.

She explained festivals such as these not only teach up and coming performers confidence but also continues to build volunteerism.

“The music’s really fantastic too so it also gives the opportunity for the community to come out and see all of these beautiful performances,” added Morin.

The festival program is in the process of being approved and will soon be posted to the organization’s Facebook page.

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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