St. Albert Rotary Music Festival returns to inspire musical excellence

The St. Albert Rotary Music Festival is similar to rare flowering plants at the Muttart Conservatory. It blooms once a year for a short time creating beauty and nurturing the soul only to fade away until the following year.

But when aspiring artists complete their piece, they carry away a new level of confidence, fresh insights and possibly a scholarship or bursary.

Andrew Boyd, 20, has competed at the Rotary’s Music Festival for about seven years. He has won the prestigious Rose Bowl Award and received numerous smaller laurels. This year he competes for the prized Lyle Moore Award and a shot at provincials, a lead-in to nationals.

“It’s good experience. I’ve had a lot of offers based on the festival. The prize money is good because it supports people like me. And it exposes people in the community to the arts,” says Boyd, who has a passion for theatre.

In the fall, he plans to attend Toronto’s Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts. Boyd is looking at a hefty tuition fee. In preparation for the intense program, he takes voices lessons twice a week that cost about $120.

Although he credits strong support from family to achieve his goals, every little bit of outside assistance is gratefully received.

Now in its 38th season, the Rotary Music Festival begins Monday, April 13 and continues until Wednesday, April 22.

Festival co-coordinator Maryan Threndyl is anticipating a higher entry level than in 2014. This year, more than 700 classes are entered. In 2014, only 680 classes were filled.

Threndyl has participated in the festival for 17 years and witnessed numerous St. Albert musicians flourish under mentors and contacts they met through the festival.

“Sometimes students get inspiration from a judge that validates all their practices and preparations. Sometimes they find someone that supports their dream and provides positive feedback,” Threndyl says.

She cites David Fraser, an emerging musician on his way to becoming a concert pianist. King’s University instructor Joachim Segger adjudicated his work and inspired the younger pianist.

Upon graduation, Fraser enrolled at Kings University to study under Segger and last year completed a fine arts degree in music and performance.

Threndyl is particularly thrilled with the event when musicians such as Neda Yamach return to the festival in a different role.

The St. Albert violinist competed numerous times at the festival in her youth. She went on to study at prestigious universities and academies, and after a strict audition was hired as a violinist for Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. This year Yamach makes an appearance as an adjudicator.

“It’s great to see a person growing up through the festival and now she’s an adjudicator mentoring younger musicians.”

Many emerging artists arrive with varying aspirations. Steven Angove, winner of the Marsha Stanton Award, is co-founder of Three Form Theatre. Lesley Dolman, a violinist-singer and recipient of the Lyle Moore Award, is pursing a successful opera career in New York.

Spencer Kryzanowski, a Rose Bowl winner, just completed a music degree at Augustana College, and Mairi McCormack, another Rose Bowl recipient, represented St. Albert at the National Music Festival.

Lara Hyrak is currently working toward a bachelor of music and a teaching career. Many others have gone on to singing, recording and composing vocations.

“I’ve often heard that it gives students their voice. They find themselves through the expression of music whether it’s solos, duets, a band or choir. They feel a sense of belonging and self-worth. They belong to a group and they share the event.

A complete online schedule of events is available at st-albertmusicfestival.com/. The schedule was also delivered in a 32-page paper insert in the Wednesday, April 8 Gazette.