Local students shine at Drumheller Music Festival

Times Contributor       

 

More and more music students in all categories are showing up at the Drumheller Music Festival.

Shelby Gregory from Standard was pleased to have had nine of her students enter and all of them receive marks of Distinction [85 per cent – 89 per cent] or higher in their performances. Most of her students registered for more than one piece during the week-long festival. Students included Kiara and Tavia Bertsch, Emily and Erin Bertsch, Maren Everett, Lauren Jensen, Catrin Thomas, Claire Webb and Stephanie Zieman. Emily Bertsch, a Grade 9 student, received an award for the highest mark in the 14-and-under Folk Vocal solo category.

Strathmore music director Loralee Laycock’s students and groups performed as follows:  Finale Choir (Strathmore Children’s Choir): United Farmers of Alberta Award of Excellence for excellence in choirs. The finale choir was also recommended to compete at the Alberta Provincial Music Festival. Kortnee, Brooke, and Brittyn Paiha received the John & Lavinia Edwards Memorial Scholarship for musical theatre trio. Brittyn Paiha received the Beta Sigma Phi Preceptor Lambda Chapter Plaque & M. Family Scholarship for highest mark 11-15 years in Musical Theatre solos. 

Rayanne Laycock and Shelby Laycock (tied) for the Nacmine Community Association Scholarship for most promising vocal students. Kortnee Paiha was recommended to compete at the Alberta Provincial Music Festival for Musical Theatre Up-Tempo Solo Open Category. Brittyn Paiha as well was recommended to compete at the Alberta Provincial Music Festival for Musical Theatre Up-Tempo 12 & Under Category. Shelby Laycock was recommended to compete at the Alberta Provincial Music Festival for Musical Theatre Ballad 12 & Under Category. Kianna Doig received the Florence Sheddy Memorial Plaque for Piano Quick Study/Sight Reading Classes.

Brentwood Elementary School music teacher Carolyn Steeves was pleased with the performances of her students and all they achieved at the Festival as well. The Brentwood School Junior Choir was awarded the T.E. Keele Trophy for highest mark in School Choruses, Grade 2 and 3. The Brentwood School Senior Choir was awarded the G. Fred Anderson Memorial Plaque for highest mark in School Choruses, Grade 4-6. They were also awarded the W.R. Dean Trophy and the Ross Ferby Scholarship of $100 for the highest mark awarded to a School Chorus of any grade 1-12. The Brentwood School Senior Choir was also recommended to represent the Drumheller Music Festival at the Alberta Music Festival’s Provincial Choral Finals on Friday, May 9 at McDougall United Church in Edmonton in the School Choirs Grade 4-6 Class. Susanne Sevcik was awarded the Vera Marchuk Memorial Scholarship for the highest mark in Piano Solos 6-12 Years inclusive and the Drumheller Music Teachers’ Trophy for the highest mark in Canadian Composer classes, Plan I and II. She was also awarded the Nicolas and Pearl Ferby Memorial Award of Excellence in Piano as recommended by the adjudicator. Susanne was also recommended to represent the Drumheller Music Festival at the Alberta Music Festival’s Provincial Finals on Saturday, May 31 at Alberta College Grant McEwan University in Edmonton in the Piano 12-and-under Class.