A sizzling heat wave in Toronto did not deter 36 young performers who advanced from the Kiwanis Festival of the Performing Arts to the Provincial Music Festival Finals.   Students representing Stratford received five gold medals, five silver medals and eleven Honorable Mentions.

This annual competition, which is sponsored by the Ontario Music Festivals Association, attracts hundreds of young artists from 34 music festivals throughout the Province. Top performers from these festivals compete in classes of up to 30 competitors for three possible placements: Winner, Runner Up and Honorable Mention.  

Instrumental soloists competing for Stratford achieved outstanding results. Kaitlin Beard of Wingham won the gold medal in Grade 8 Woodwinds, and Stephen Chard of Dorchester earned gold in Grade 10 Brass. Julie Wilhelm of Stratford was awarded Honorable Mention in Open Brass, and Kate Martin of Toronto earned Honorable Mentioni in Grade 8 Strings. And our first-ever Runner-up in Guitar was Daniel Ramjattan of Stratford, who earned the silver medal for his Grade 7 repertoire.

The quality of the Speech and Drama programs in our community was reflected in a strong showing in Toronto.  All five qualifying for the prestigious competition received honours: Ashley Robinson of Stratford, Catherine Umolac of Cambridge and Samantha Edwards of Goderich received silver medals, while Olivia Steven of Stratford and Kandi Prosser of Baden each earned Honorable Mention.

Stuart Weir from Stratford led the way in Music Theatre winning the silver medal in the Junior competition. Britta Johnson of Stratford and Janelle Murray of Seaforth earned Honorable Mention in Intermediate and Senior Music Theatre respectively. Janelle, showing the depth and strength of her talent, also received Honorable Mention in Grade 9 Voice.

In an exciting playoff, Patrick Murray of Waterloo won the gold medal for Grade 10 Piano.  Connon O'Kane of Waterloo, Douglas Williams of Stratford, Ryan Faulkner of Toronto and Heidi Wall of Kitchener each earned Honorable Mention for Stratford in Grades 8, 10, Diploma and Open Piano.

Eileen Baldwin capped an outstanding career as conductor of the St. Marys Children’s Choir with two first place awards at the Provincial competition. The Children’s Chorus 12 years and under took home the Dr. and Mrs. J.F.K. English Award, and the Children’s Chorus 16 years and under was presented the Margaret Wharton Memorial Award. The recorded performances of both these choirs will be forwarded to the National Music Festival, in Edmonton.

Rounding out the team and turning in fine performances were: Thomas and Emily Beard, Mimi Liu, Caitlin McQuaite (Strings): Richelle Kruisselbrink, Jessica Whidden, Lauren McFadyen, Kevin Tang (Piano); Ryan Brown, Brittany Lyon, Christopher Leonhardt, Carolyn Murray, Tristan Hernandez (Voice, Musical Theatre).

These impressive results from Toronto are a testament to the exceptional dedication of our local music and drama students. Of course, great credit must go to their parents, teachers and accompanists for their guidance and support.

Competitors who are interested in advancing to the prestigious Ontario Music Festivals Association finals competition in 2009 should keep the following qualifications and performance requirements in mind when entering classes or selecting music for our local festival.

Elementary and secondary school bands, as well as community bands, may be selected by the adjudicator for the Provincial Finals.  The following bands are eligible: 

Elementary Schools (K to 8): concert bands, jazz bands (with 21 or more members) and jazz ensembles (from 9 to 24 performers)

Secondary Schools: concert bands, jazz bands (with 21 or more members) and jazz ensembles (from 9 to 24 performers)

Community: concert bands

Qualifying bands do not travel to the competition.  They are asked to submit an audio recording of two contrasting selections that they played at the local festival.  For full details, please check the Ontario Music Festivals' Association web site: www.omfa.info

Brass and Woodwind players who wish to be considered for the Provincial Finals must enter a class below.

Graded competitors perform two musically contrasting selections, with a maximum combined time of: Grade 7 - 15 minutes; Grades 8 to 10 - 20 minutes; Diploma - 30 minutes.  One or more movements of a multi-movement work count as one selection only.   Repertoire must be chosen from the current RCM or CC Syllabi and must include the number of movements specified.   Maximum Age: 28 on December 31st.

Open competitors perform at least two consecutive movements from a senior sonata, concerto or concerted work, as well as another selection.  Maximum Age: 28 on December 31st.  For further details, consult the Syllabus at: www.omfa.info

Local competitors, who wish to be considered for the Provincial Finals, may enter one of the following classes.  Note: this is the only section in the Kiwanis Festival of the Performing Arts Stratford syllabus where competitors may repeat selections.

Community choirs of 13 or more singers may be selected by the adjudicator for the OMFA Provincial Finals. Choirs must use the Provincial guidelines in their music selections:

Community Choir 19 & Over
Sing two contrasting pieces, one in three or more parts. Brief solo passages are allowed.

Community Choir 19 & Under
Sing two contrasting pieces, one in three or more parts.  No soloist is allowed.

Community Choir 16 & Under
Sing two contrasting pieces, one in two or more parts. Brief solo passages are allowed.

Community Choir 12 & Under
Sing two contrasting pieces: one in two or more parts. Brief solo passages are allowed.

Male Choir
Sing two contrasting pieces, one in three or more parts. Brief solo passages are allowed.

School Choir 19 & Under
Sing two contrasting pieces, one in three or more parts. Brief solo passages are allowed.

School Choir 16 & Under
Sing two contrasting pieces, one in two or more parts. Brief solo passages are allowed.

School Choir 12 & Under
Sing two contrasting pieces, one in two or more parts. Brief solo passages are allowed.

Qualifying choirs do not travel to the competition.  They are asked to submit an audio recording of two contrasting selections that they performed at the local festival.  For full details, please check the Ontario Music Festivals' Association web site: www.omfa.info

Open competitors who achieve at least one mark of 85% in an appropriate class may be recommended by the adjudicator to enter the Provincial Finals. 

Open competitors play at least two consecutive movements from a senior sonata, concerto or concerted work. (One movement must have been performed at a local festival.)  A third selection will be the competitor's own choice, but may not be another movement of the  same work. 

Graded pianists who achieve at least one mark of 85%, in grade 7, 8, 9, 10 or diploma classes, may be recommended for the Provincials, for performances heard at the local Festival. In Graded piano, competitors must perform two musically contrasting selections, with the following maximum combined times: grade 7 - 15 minutes; grades 8 to 10 - 20 minutes; diploma - 30 minutes.

Repertoire must be chosen from current RCM or CC syllabi.   As well, competitors:
a)  must be working on repertoire listed at that grade level in the above syllabi
b)  must not have passed Conservatory examinations at that level or higher, before           December 31st

c)  must be 28 years or less on December 31st.

Local competitors, who wish to be considered for the Provincial Finals, must enter at least three classes at their current level of study at our Festival.

Check full details on the Ontario Music Festivals' Association website: www.omfa.info

The adjudicator may recommend participants for the Provincial Finals in Speech & Drama. 

Classes there are offered at four levels:
Junior Competitors: 12 to 14 years, as of December 31st
Intermediate Competitors: 15 to 16 years, as of December 31st
Senior Competitors: 17 to 19 years, as of December 31st

Advanced Competitors: 20 to 28 years, as of December 31st.

At the Provincials, competitors are required to perform three or four selections that show contrast in mood:

a) One selection of drama from a play or anthology of monologues, depicting one character of the performer's own gender.  Costumes and props are permitted for this selection only.

b) One selection of narrative poetry

c) One selection of prose or lyric poetry, or one of each

If you wish to qualify for Provincials, keep these requirements in mind when you select classes and test pieces.  At least one of the selections performed at the Provincials must have been performed at our local Festival.  We recommend you enter at least two classes offering drama, narrative poetry, lyric poetry or prose.  OR enter a Concert Performance class below and perform all four.  Please see the Ontario Music Festivals' Association website: www.omfa.info  

Perform one scene from a published play or anthology of monologues, one narrative poem and one or two selections of prose or lyric poetry. Please read the instructions for narrative and lyric poetry carefully, before selecting and preparing your poems.  These classes will include a workshop with the adjudicator, following the performance.   

At the adjudicator's discretion, string and guitar players may be chosen to compete in the Provincial Finals Open competition.  To be considered, please note these guidelines when making your musical selection.  

Competitors in the open competition at the Provincials must perform at least two consecutive movements of a senior concerto or concerted work.  One movement must have been performed at a local festival.  All music must be memorized.

Maximum age for Provincial string and guitar competitors is 28 on December 31st.  For full details, check the Ontario Music Festivals' Association syllabus: www.omfa.info

At the adjudicator's discretion, string and guitar players may be chosen to compete in the Provincial Graded Competition - for grades 7 to 10 and diploma students.  To be considered, please note these guidelines when making your musical selections.  

Competitors in the graded competition at the Provincials will perform two selections, with a maximum combined time of 15 minutes (grade 7), 20 minutes (grades 8 to 10) or 30 minutes (diploma).  Performers may count one movement of a multi-movement work as one selection only.  Selections must be musically contrasting.  One selection must have been performed at a local festival.  

Maximum age for string competitors is 28 on December 31st. For complete details, check the Ontario Music Festivals' Association syllabus: www.omfa.info

Participants who enter at least three senior-level classes may be recommended by the adjudicator to enter the Provincial Finals in the Open Vocal competition. 

At the Provincials, competitors must sing three selections, and must perform in two languages.  One selection must be from an operatic aria, one from a sacred aria and one selection is the competitor's own choice.  Maximum combined time allowed is 40 minutes.  Maximum age for competitors is 28 as of December 31st.

Check full details on the Ontario Music Festivals' Association website: www.omfa.info

Singers wishing to be considered for the Provincial competition in Graded vocal must enter a class below.  Competitors must sing three selections, and must perform in two languages.  Maximum combined times are: grade 7 - 15 minutes; grade 8 to 10 - 20 minutes; diploma - 30 minutes.

Performers may count one movement of a multi-movement work as one selection only.  Selections should be musically contrasting, and the adjudicator will take choice of material into consideration.   Oral introductions are not permitted.

This is the only section in the Kiwanis Festival of the Performing Arts Stratford where competitors may repeat selections.  Repertoire must be chosen from the current RCM or CC syllabi.   As well, competitors:
a) must be working on repertoire listed at that grade level in RCM or CC syllabi
b) must not have passed Conservatory exams at that level, before December 31st
c) must not have reached their 29 birthday as at December 31st.

Check full details on the Ontario Music Festivals' Association website: www.omfa.info

Musical theatre soloist may compete in the Provincial Finals in four age categories:

Junior Competitors: 12 to 14 years, as of December 31st
Intermediate Competitors: 15 to 16 years, as of December 31st
Senior Competitors: 17 to 19 years, as of December 31st
Advanced Competitors: 20 to 28 years, as of December 31st.

Competitors are required to perform two contrasting selections from musical theatre repertoire -- ie. from Broadway musicals (not movie sound tracks). 

Those wishing to advance to the Provincial Finals should enter two musical theatre classes in Stratford.   To qualify, one selection must receive at least 85%.

Ensemble competitors who wish to be considered for the Provincial Finals must follow these Provincial guidelines in their choice of music:

Small ensembles of 8-12 singers, with no age limitation, will be marked on the total performance of two contrasting selections, one of which must be sung in three or more parts, and one of which must be a madrigal.  Brief solo passages are allowed.

Qualifying ensembles do not travel to the competition.  They are asked to submit an audio recording of the selections they sang at the local festival.  For full details, please check the Ontario Music Festivals' Association web site: www.omfa.info