Festival 2011 - March 28 to April 16
WHAT'S NEW
L I N K S - click on People/Our Supporters
Visit www.lfpress.com - click on Entertainment/Events/Category/Music/ Date/Go.
Visit
Visit www.londonarts.ca
Visit www.aeolianhall.ca
September 5
SUNDAY SUMMER CONCERTS:
Beethoven 9/5, featuring musicians of Orchestra London,
Sunday, 4-6 p.m.
at Wonderland Gardens Bandshell at Springbank Gardens;
free admission; 519-661-5575.
September 23
PARALLAX
Parallax (contemporary / smooth jazz band)
is playing at Smoke-n-Bones restaurant, 855 Wellington Rd. at 8:30 pm
A wide variety of smooth jazz/funk/motown tunes are in the mix.
Personnel - Rob Thibert - saxes; John Kenny - Bass; Ron Nauta
- Keyboards and vocals; Fred Blumas - Guitar; Bert Hamer - Drums and percussion; Rob Larose - Drums and percussion
Tickets: Call 1-800-567-1600 or www.stratfordfestival.ca
ORCHESTRA LONDON 2010-2011 SE ASON - www.orchestralondon.ca
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New for Festival 2011
New - Bill & Eva Bettger Trophy and $100 Award
donated by Colborne Street United Church
New - $500 Award in memory of Mrs. William Corfield from Kiwanis Club of Middlesex (London)
New - $200 Award for Piano from The House Family
New - $500 Donation from Jack & Betty Southen
N O T I C E S
2010 Festival Awards & Trophies - click on People/Winners.
Awards and Trophies are based on Adjudicators' recommendations.
To contribute to the Awards Fund, contact Award Chair Bob Hayman, bob@hayman.net
The 2010 Provincial Finals were held at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, ON
from June 11-18, 2010.
- click on People/Winners. Visit www.omfa.info -
The 2010 National Finals were held at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, in August.
Visit www.fcmf.org
FESTIVAL 2011 - MARCH 28 to APRIL 16
Speech given by Rick Pichė, guest speaker at Annual General Meeting, June 22, 2010
My first music festival experience was in grade 5, when our choir sang in the local Owen Sound music festival. Since that time, I have attended many, many Kiwanis music festivals, and I have come to appreciate the amazing value that these festivals have. I have met numerous Canadian musicians all over the world, both professional and amateur. Almost every one of them has a wonderful story of being in a Kiwanis music festival at some point in their life. For some, the festivals serve as a launching pad for a musical career. For others, it is a chance to shine for a moment and be recognized as being”the best in their class”. And it is incredible how wonderful it makes someone feel, even if they were the only one in their class.
The Kiwanis music festivals offer encouragement, a change to compete, or maybe just a chance to play for others. I know from my own experiences as a music teacher, and father of three accomplished musicians, that the festival encourages excellence, motivates practising and provides a venue for performance and growth.
As you know, the motto of Kiwanis is “serving the children of the world”, and this is a very important goal not to be taken lightly. But I know that you do not take it lightly, because I have had a glimpse of some of the hard work from many dedicated volunteers over the years. Simply put, your work on the festival makes this world a better place, not only for the children, but for many, many adults.
I have come to believe that we are made to give, to share what we have with others. I like to say, when we stop giving we stop living. But you have been living extravagantly in the best of ways, sharing your time and talent with others.
I applaud your Herculean efforts, and your tireless dedication. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the many lives you have touched through the festival. And my life is one of them. You should be proud to be a Kiwanian, and very proud of the music festival you have produced. You have enriched thousands of lives and on behalf of those people I thank you. May you continue to be a blessing to others and receive a blessing in return.
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
Message from the Chairman of the Board
This year, 2010 is our 50th Anniversary of the Kiwanis Music Festival here in London. I thought you might like to know how the Festival got started. It actually started to take place with the formation of the Kiwanis Club of London back in 1920. At their noon time meetings, the singing of the popular music of the day was a big part of the get-togethers. So much so, that in 1925 Kiwanian Bert Weir formed the Kiwanis Chorus. For many years this group travelled the area entertaining the community with their singing abilities. They continued their interest in music with the idea and funding of the Kiwanis Band shell in Victoria Park in 1938. The Band shell was later updated through the efforts of Kiwanian Phil Murphy in 1985. In 1949 the Kiwanis Oratorios along with many city church groups put together a choir of five hundred voices along with the London Symphony Orchestra to present Handel’s Messiah which was the largest musical event to hit London. This continued over a number of years with a variety of performances at the London Arena.
In 1957 the combination of Kiwanis interest in youth and music made it logical to sponsor the YMCA local music contest for young musicians. From this trial it became apparent that the area was interested in something bigger with more musical scope. Over the next few years the planning took place to present in 1960 the first Kiwanis Music Festival. Quickly the Festival grew, with the addition of more and more classes over the years. In 1971 the “Friends of the Festival” program was started to raise scholarship monies that would go back to those that performed well and Charitable Donation Receipts were provided to those that contributed. This fund has been well managed over the years to the point where last year we were able to give back in the form of awards just over $45,000 to those that participate. In 1979 the Festival moved to two weeks and our present Administrator Charlotte Cleland started to work with us. In 1985 we acquired our first computer to help schedule the event.It was in 1995 that the Kiwanis Club of London decided to relinquish the sponsorship of the Festival and a Board of Directors was established through the direction and hard work of Frank Barrett who spearheaded this change. In 1999 we held our first Stars Concert which has turned out to be a highlight of the Festival. In 2005 we moved to a three week Festival and in 2008 we were able to acquire a new computer system that will allow us to continue to automate over the next few years. In 2008 the Festival held its first Lois Marshall Memorial Vocal contest and this has turned out to be a premier event each year. None of this would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of those who volunteer their time either as Board members or to help us run the halls. It is volunteers that drive this Festival and all the participants that perform that makes it such a success! On behalf of the Board I want to thank each and every one as you have allowed us to hit this special 50th Anniversary milestone. Don’t miss our 50 th Anniversary Gala Awards Night and Performance to be held May 26 th at Centennial Hall. All the best and I look forward to seeing you during the Festival.
Jim Scott, Festival Chair
Music gives a soul to the universe,
Wings to the mind,
Flight to the imagination...
And life to everything.
... Plato
FESTIVAL 2011 - March 28 to April 16