Kootenay Festival of the Arts returns to Nelson for 2016 campaign
By Nelson Daily Staff
In 1930, Canada was locked in the Great Depression, the planet Pluto was discovered and the Kootenay Festival of the Arts kicked off its inaugural campaign.
During the next three weeks more than 400 performers between five and 69 years of age from throughout the West Kootenay will be performing in front of adjudicators at the 2016 edition showcases local dancers, pianist, vocalists and musicians.
“Our goal is to educate, encourage and promote students of the performing arts in the disciplines of dance, speech arts, voice, piano, strings (including guitar and harp) and winds, through guidance and inspiration from highly accomplished professional adjudicators,” Wendy Herbison, President of the Kootenay Festival of the Arts said on the eve of the 2016 event.
“We also like to encourage audience attendance to give support to the performers and to inspire others to become involved in the arts.”
The Nelson Musical Festival Association began when representatives of the Trail Veteran’s Orchestra and the Nelson Symphony Orchestra set up a joint committee to plan for a Kootenay-wide festival in the spring of 1930.
Founders realized that one of the most challenging problems was a suitable venue for the large number of participants and audiences anticipated.
Following some breaks during the war and in the 60s, the festival was revived, alternating between Trail and Nelson each year.
In 2013 Festival in Trail was cancelled.
However, the Festival was revived in 2014 back in Nelson and is going strong once again.
The event begins Wednesday (March 30) with Dance Ballet Workshops at the Capitol Theatre.
Dance events continue through to Saturday with the Dance Highlight Concert set for 7 p.m. in the Capitol Theatre.
“The Highlights Concerts feature performers recommended by the adjudicators, usually for their outstanding performances, but also for a unique quality, perhaps an unusual choice of repertoire or to provide variety in the programming,” Herbison explained.
The Kootenay School of the Arts resumes April 11-16 with Strings, Vocal and Piano at St. Saviour’s Pro-Cathedral, Bethel Christian Centre and Nelson United Church, respectively.
The top performers from event in Nelson have the opportunity to advance to the 2016 Provincial Festival of Performing Arts Tuesday, May 31 to Saturday, June 4 at Fort St. John.
Kootenay Music Festival Society is dedicated to providing an opportunity for young performers top perform at high level. To keep entrance fees low for participants, the society asks spectators to be generous when donating admission to events.
Herbison said the public might see a few performers who use the Festival as a stepping-stone for professional careers.
Some past performers who have gone on to professional careers include Herbison, Nancy Argenta, Rebecca MacLeod, Natasha Hall and Molly MacKinnon.
For more information check out the Kootenay Festival of the Arts website.
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