The 83rd annual Sask Valley Music Festival saw 168 entries, an increase from 2022, giving us hope for the future as we recover from the ravages of the pandemic.
The students seemed unusually well-prepared and approached their performances with confidence and exuberance, whether the piece was rousing or quiet and contemplative.
Our wonderful and encouraging adjudicators Ron de Jager for voice and Peggy L’Hoir for instrumental were very impressed with the level they heard this year. They were not only helpful but made participating fun for the students.
At our Awards Concert on Friday March 31, we were treated to 20 excellent repeat performances from the week and witnessed trophies and awards of $2,985 given to outstanding students. Thanks to our scholarship donors and trophy supporters for making this all possible.
We had a total of 17 entries recommended to provincial competition to take place in Regina June 1-4. Congratulations to RJC Singers, Emma Gillingham, Mia Gillingham, Zoe Ostapak and Eli Ens. We wish them well as they represent Sask Valley.
We hope to have even more participation next year March 13-20, 2024! Venue TBD. Entry deadline is January 27, 2024 so start planning your entries now. Did you know that spoken word, both choral and individual, is part of SMFA competitions?
SASK VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL 2023 AWARD WINNERS
JUNIOR PIANO (12 YRS & UNDER)
Friesen’s BigWay Rising Star Trophy & Scholarship $50: Jaron Ens
Studio 52 Piano Scholarship I $50: Jesse Hildebrandt
Studio 52 Piano Scholarship II $50: Jayden Billesberger
Katherine Hooge Trophy & Scholarship $100: Justin Jacobi
Rosthern Lionel Scholarship $60: Chloe Friesen
Valley Sports and Hardware Trophy: Jayden Billesberger
Audrey Watson Baroque/Classical Scholarship $50: Jayden Billesberger
Manor Woodwork Baroque Trophy: Jayden Billesberger
Judy McKinnell Memorial Award & Scholarship $50: Dominic Reban
SVMFA Piano Scholarship $50: Kathleen Moses
SENIOR PIANO (13 YRS & OVER)
Swab Family Award & Scholarship $100: Natalie Reban
Studio 52 Piano Scholarship III $50: Alicia Jacobi
Loewen Accounting Scholarship I $50: Alayna Enns
Victor & Irma Lehmann Family Trophy & Scholarship $100: Kalem Wall
Rosthern Medical Clinic Scholarship $100: Lochlan Lester
Rosthern Lions Club $75: Ema Friesen
L.P Schmidt Trucking Ltd. Church Music Trophy: Emily Ens
SVMFA Canadian Music Piano Scholarship $50: Mia Gillingham
PIANO OPEN (ANY AGE)
Loewen Accounting Scholarship II $50: Libby Friesen, Simeon Friesen
Loewen Accounting Scholarship III $50: Katie Charabin
Loewen Accounting Scholarship IV $50: Henry Balzer
Sask Valley Duo Trophy: Ionela Bauman, Cyrus Lo
Funk’s Funeral Home Scholarship & Shield $100: Cyrus Lo
Alumni Post-Secondary Piano Scholarship $150: Isaac Lo
Piano Rose Bowl & Scholarship $200, Saskatchewan Valley Jubilee Rose Bowl & Scholarship $200: Eli Ens
INSTRUMENTAL
Elma Janzen Memorial Scholarship $50: Eli Ens
Rosthern Agencies Trophy: Eli Ens
VOCAL & MUSCIAL THEATRE (12 YRS & UNDER)
Affinity Credit Union Scholarship (Musical Theatre) $50: Audrey Loewen
Vocal Scholarship I $50: Audrey Loewen
VOCAL & MUSICAL THEATRE (12 YRS & OVER)
Waldheim School Staff Cup: Zoe Ostapak
Staging Canadell Musical Theatre Scholarship $100: Mia Gillingham
Rosthern Junior College Board Scholarship $100: Ionela Bauman
VOCAL & MUSICAL THEATRE OPEN (ANY AGE)
MacMillan Folksong Scholarship $50: Zoe Ostapak
Vocal Scholarship II $50: Zoe Ostapak
Louella Klassen Friesen RCM/CC Scholarship $50: Mia Gillingham
SVMFA Canadian Music Vocal Scholarship $50 Monica Steinke
Station Arts Centre Trophy (Musical Theatre): Mia Gillingham
Erwin Janzen Memorial Scholarship & Trophy $100: Mia Gillingham
Alumni Post-Secondary Vocal Scholarship $150: Emma Gillingham
Vocal Rose Bowl:
Vernon Klaassen Vocal Rose Bowl Trophy and Dora Klaassen Memorial Scholarship $200: Monica Steinke
SPOKEN WORD
Speech Arts Scholarship $50: Jaron Ens
Elma Janzen Memorial Scholarship $50: Eli Ens
SVMFA Speech Arts Scholarship $100: Mia Gillingham
SCHOOL MUSIC & SPEECH
Spoken Word:
Division I – Sask Valley Music Festival Shield: Hague Elementary Grade 2 Class Conducted by Latraca Lesko
Choral:
Division II – “The Gift of Song” Shield: Waldheim School Chorus Conducted by Sharlene Smith
Division IV – David H. Paetkau Memorial Shield: RJC High School Singers Conducted by Kayleigh Skomorowski
Friesen’s Bigway Foods Scholarship $50: RJC High School Concert Choir Conducted by Kayleigh Skomorowski
Affinity Credit Union Scholarship (Choral) $150: RJC High School Singers Conducted by Kayleigh Skomorowski