PREVIEW
Encore
Wednesday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m.
Arden Theatre
5 St. Anne Street
Tickets: $15. Call Arden box office at 780-459-1542
Hundreds of young performers descended on the 2018 St. Albert Rotary Music Festival.
Only one came away with the prestigious $1,000 Lyle Moore Scholarship.
During the competition running April 4 to 14, lyric soprano Dacia Gramlick captured the judges’ attention with four works by Debussy, Vivaldi, Schumann and Walton.
Upon hearing the news, Gramlick said, “I was shocked. The other candidates were so good. I’d had a slight mishap before going on. But I went up and it was the best performance I put on in a long time. I was shocked and happy.”
The Stettler-raised vocalist is a third-year University of Alberta music student who also performs with the Madrigal Singers. She plans to use the scholarship to pay tuition for a summer opera intensive in Valencia, Spain operated from the Boston Conservatory.
“I am very gratified that this has happened and I feel very lucky to have the opportunity for this scholarship. And I want to thank the St. Albert Music Festival for giving me this opportunity,” Gramlick added.
The Lyle Moore Scholarship is one of $12,000 in scholarships and bursaries the festival is presenting worthy performers at Encore, a concert and awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 25 at the Arden Theatre.
Apart from showing their chops, Encore is an opportunity for musicians, singers and triple-threat musical theatre actors to watch other artists their own age perform – something that rarely happens in teachers’ studios.
“Every year is astounding. A couple of my friends came out this year. They didn’t understand how talented these kids are, and the kids wowed them. Even though they are amateurs, their talent blows you away,” said festival coordinator Laurie Christiansen.
Dr. Alan Murdock, president of the festival board of directors, will once again step up to the microphone as host. Last year he co-hosted with Rotarian Doug Webster, and Murdock’s dry, tongue-in-cheek wit combined with Webster’s zingers made the evening flow smoothly.
In addition to handing out scholarships and trophies, Murdock will introduce 11 acts that are not only technically proficient, but also charmed judges with heartfelt performances.
Piano performances bookend the concert with classical pianist Justine Lai playing O Canada immediately followed by The Three Stars Piano Trio playing singer-songwriter Tommy Dee’s The Three Stars.
And at the festival finale, Elena Begovic taps the ivories with the lively Turkish Bazaar while Vivian Tao closes playing Beethoven’s easy-going, pastoral Sonata No. 15 Op. 28, 1st movement.
Sandwiched in between are a series of musical theatre charts, pop solos and duets as well as a violin performance. In addition Stony Plain’s much-lauded Memorial Composite High Mixed Ensemble makes an appearance.
Violinist Cassidy Nuoanethong along with vocalists Sofiya Chvojka; Gabriel Lappa; Lilia Krieger; Hailey Benedict; and sisters, Elizabeth and Sarah Monson, are featured performers.
Christiansen notes, “Encore is an important concert to support young people and get a taste of their talent. And it’s a night out.”
