Every year the St. Albert Rotary Music Festival recognizes student achievement through a variety of scholarships totalling nearly $11,000.
This year the Lyle Moore Scholarship, valued at $1,000 is awarded to Adam Skogstad, 18, for his bold stage presence and versatility in musical theatre performance.
“It’s an incredibly generous amount of money. It’s one-eighth of my tuition for next year. University right now is very expensive, but I’ve been working to save for it,” said the Paul Kane High graduate who plans to attend Vancouver's Capilano University in 2023-24.
The university offers a three-year program that includes stage and screen acting classes, movement, production, directing, voice work, musical theatre and performance history.
“I’m someone who wants to do everything — acting, directing, writing. I want to be a jack-of-all trades,” Skogstad said.
For the music competition, he sang five songs from diverse musicals: Larger Than Life from My Favourite Year; Giant from the Sky from Into the Woods; What Do I Need With Love from Thoroughly Modern Millie; Her Voice from The Little Mermaid, and Waving Through a Window from Evan Hansen.
“All are great songs and they sit well in my voice. I’m lucky I have a high tenor voice. They suit my voice and they’re fun to sing.”
His theatre experience goes back a decade. Kim Mattice-Wanat, founder of Opera Nuova, has been his voice instructor since Grade 7. In addition, Kogstad performed several set shows with St. Albert Children’s Theatre including James and the Giant Peach as well as The Little Mermaid. He was also invited to act three consecutive years in the Citadel Theatre’s Christmas Carol.
“I’m some who does theatre from want and love. I lost a little bit of the theatre experience in the last couple of years, but this win shows I have the skill set to do what I want to do.”
In its finest tradition, the St. Albert Rotary Music Festival will host ENCORE!, a gala evening that combines a series of charming musical performances before scholarship recipients receive their award.
ENCORE! takes place at the Arden Theatre on Wednesday, April 26 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $20 and are available online at tickets.stalbert.ca or by phone at 780-459-1542.
