PREVIEW
St. Albert Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts
Thursday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m.
Enjoy Centre
101 Riel Drive
Tickets: $25 Call 780-459-1542 or at www.ticketmaster.ca
Who will take home the arts awards and $1,000 cheque? That is the big question at the 2018 Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts awards ceremony on Thursday, March 15 at the Enjoy Centre.
The very worthy Dr. Lillian Upright is this year’s acknowledged recipient for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts. Her passion for music not only inspired hundreds of students. It reshaped St. Albert’s artistic core.
Moving along to the Arts Leadership Award, Heather Dolman is a shoe-in as the only nominee. Even if she had competition, Dolman’s two-decade contributions in the literary arts and music would make her a force to be reckoned with.
The Youth Awards are much tougher to predict. Both singer-songwriter Hailey Benedict and actress Olivia Kate Iadritis have a broad provincial profile. However, singer Sydney Bourbeau and slam poet Julia Sorensen have a devoted local fan following.
The Emerging Artist category is all over the map with the largest number of contenders – seven in all. In fact, you could compare it to a fruit salad.
Since the nominees disciplines vary – rock, Latin, pop, acting, photography, visual artistry and furniture making – the judges will be pitting apples and oranges against pineapples and mangoes.
The Established Artist category is a tight race between two visual artists with equally strong portfolios – Victoria Armstrong and David Scott.
The Excellence in Arts Teaching attracted four notable nominees representing dance, music, cartooning and visual arts making this category another tough choice.
The final category is the Community Arts Group with five prospects throwing their hat in the ring. In addition to the more high profile Friends of the Arden Theatre Society and St. Albert Chamber Music Society, it’s wonderful to see lesser known nominees United in Bronze Handbell Choir added to the list.
While certain categories are clearer than others, the final selections for Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts is anyone's guess. Care to put in a friendly bet?
Below is a complete listing of all nominees.
Lifetime Achievement in the Arts
Dr. Lillian UprightAs a teenager, Dr. Lillian Upright dreamt of playing piano in Parisian concert halls. Instead the Edmonton-raised gifted pianist made significant contributions teaching and adjudicating for 32 years in St. Albert, the city she called home.
Passionate about music in every form, she co-founded the original St. Albert Singers and would go on to become the University of Alberta’s first doctoral recipient in piano performance.
After retiring from teaching, Upright resettled in Edmonton with her magnificent black Steinway, and partnered with violinist Yoko Wong and cellist Diana Nuttall to form Trio Con Brio. At recitals it was not uncommon to see the trio playing magnificent works from Mozart and Bach to Ravel and Piazzolla.
In addition, Upright aimed her energies at directing the Cross Cancer Institute's Hot Cross Singers, and to this day, the charming 85-year-old continues to perform at her retirement community.
Arts Leadership Award
Heather DolmanA familiar face on the literary and music scene, Heather Dolman has worked at St. Albert Public Library for more than 20 years. In addition, her personal interests involve assisting a variety of organizations that include St. Albert Chamber Music Society, St. Albert Rotary Music Festival, and STARFest. And if that’s not enough, the long-time St. Albert mother of four also co-chairs the St. Albert Cultivates the Arts Society and is the Edmonton Youth Orchestra general manager.
Youth Artist
Hailey BenedictSinger-songwriter Hailey Benedict, 15, is an international award-winning artist versatile in both country and musical theatre. A multiple nominee at the Association of Country Music Awards, the Paul Kane High student received the Fan Choice Award in 2014, the youngest recipient on record.
Sydney Bourbeau
St. Albert Catholic High student Sydney Bourbeau has performed at St. Albert Amplify Festival, busked at St. Albert Farmers’ Market and played at various local fundraising events. She was also a finalist in St. Albert Idol and St. Albert’s Got Talent.
Olivia Kate Iatridis
Two-time Mayor’s Celebration nominee Olivia Kate Iatridis aspires to a long-lived acting career in film. She has acted in short films and commercials, and most recently nabbed a supporting role in Indra's Awakening, an Edmonton International Film Festival work that won Audience Choice Award for Best Dramatic Short.
Julia Sorenson
A University of Alberta English major, Julia Sorenson writes articles, songs and stories. But first and foremost the spoken word artist views herself as a poet performing slam poetry and writing poetry chap books.
Emerging Artist
AltamedaThis St. Albert four-piece rock band hit the jackpot with their 2016 album release Dirty Rain. Since then, they’ve enjoyed a busy schedule performing, touring and receiving radio airplay. Two of their latest high profile gigs are the 2017 Edmonton Folk Fest and the 2018 Seven Music Fest.
Cristian De La Luna
Singer-songwriter and trumpeter, Cristian De La Luna was born in Colombia and played in a traditional Colombian ensemble. A human rights activist, he has set out to promote unity, and was recognized with a 2013 Western Canadian Music Award nomination for his album Puede ser.
Andrew Elaschuk
Using his hands to create, local furniture designer and builder Andrew Elaschuk concentrates on contemporary minimalist designs that deliver traditional craftsmanship.
Shay Esposito
Singer-songwriter-recording artist Shay Esposito has released two albums that have garnered airplay in both Canada and Russia. She was also a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition and earned a win for the UK Songwriting Contest.
Kristen Padayas
A University of Alberta fine arts graduate, actor-producer-improviser Kristen Padayas has performed in professional theatre for nine years. Some of her recent performances included Bone Wars (2017), Under Cover (2016), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2016).
Zachary Polis
Although filmmaker, photographer and writer Zachary Polis is just getting his feet wet in the industry, he already boasts more than 100 photos published on Vogue Italia’s website.
Kathleen Short
Subjects filled with colour and movement tend to inspire Kathleen Short, an artist who works in many media. She attempts to capture a moment in time that provokes emotion and meaning.
Established Artist
Victoria ArmstrongA painter who has travelled to exotic locales in East Africa as well North and Central America, Victoria Armstrong’s canvases blend nature, fantasy and serenity. A storyteller at heart, Armstrong draws observers into her world through paintings of living creatures.
David Scott
Although David Scott now calls St. Albert home, he grew up in New Zealand and developed a natural rapport with the arts. He earned a fine arts degree from Waikato Institute of Technology, and has used that foundation to capture Alberta’s rich landscapes and its people.
Excellence in Arts Teaching
Kathryn Campbell Giebelhaus
Choreographing movement is Kathryn Giebelhaus' forte. She has taught highland dance for 40 years and operates one of the few competitive highland dance schools in St. Albert. Her students have earned national and international titles as well as six top placements at world championships.
Ryan Herbold
An in-demand freelance violinist (String Bean Quartet) and choral tenor, Ryan Herbold was hired at Richard Fowler Catholic Junior High School in 2008 to build a strong music program. The 10-year-old program now boasts 130 students in band, choir and musical theatre.
Colleen Hewitt
Holding both a fine arts degree in visual arts and a teaching degree, Colleen Hewitt spent 15 years as an illustrator and graphic designer before shifting her focus to Paul Kane High School. For two decades, Hewitt has inspired students to draw, paint and sculpt and generally expand their artistic expression.
Gerry Rasmussen
As the creator of the internationally syndicated cartoon, Betty, Gerry Rasmussen’s humorous nuggets of life are enjoyed in daily newspapers across North America. Since 2003, Rasmussen has taught at the Pygmalion School of Art inspiring the next generation of artists with his love of cartooning.
Community Arts Group
Friends of the Arden Theatre SocietyThe Friends of the Arden Theatre Society helps to fund programs that create opportunities for both performers and audiences.
St. Albert Chamber Music Society
The St. Albert Chamber Music Society fosters appreciation and enjoyment of chamber music by offering top-drawer performances from distinguished artists and emerging musicians.
Ukrainian Cheremosh Society
Now going 30 years strong, the Ukrainian Cheremosh Society has promoted Ukrainian dance through an annual dance festival and classes that showcase artistic achievement.
United in Bronze Handbell Choir
The United in Bronze Handbell Choir, performing out of St. Albert’s United Church, share their love of English handbells playing at fundraisers, concerts and festivals.
Visual Arts Studio Association of St. Albert (VASA)
The Visual Arts Studio Association of St. Albert (VASA) is a dynamic artist-run centre that provides space for artists to work, gallery space to showcase new works and an educational program for artists with developmental disabilities.
