Memorable Concert Concludes 2016 Rotary Music Festival

The Keynotes Concert concluded the 62nd Rotary Music Festival held Feb. 22 to 26, as an overwhelming and memorable success. 

The turnout of supporters filled the Salvation Army auditorium to capacity April 8. Throughout the evening, sixty-two  high achieving festival participants were presented scholarships totalling $8650.  This amount represented 22 donors of the annual scholarships plus ongoing funding of the Rotary Club of St. Thomas Foundation. 

Performers for the evening were drawn from the many talents in the festival, representing classes in voice, piano, strings, and instrumentals, as well as school choirs.

The Elgin Court choir of young people opened the concert leading the singing of O Canada.  They followed this with their singing of Paper Moon under the direction of Theresa Ginther.  Then they quietly sat at the front of the auditorium during the remaining concert as there were no other seats.

Performances by the participating musicians were exciting, beautifully executed and well received.  Vocalists were Maggie Yurek, Ruby and Stella Watson, Sarah White with her own composition, Terry Lanning and Rachel Ginther.  On the piano were Brendan Alexander and Jonathan Renaud.  Patrick Smithers was back again with his trumpet , and both Ana Nikolova and Jeanine Noorloos presented beautiful violin solos. Rachael Ginther brought the evening to a climactic end thrilling the audience with the Laughing Song from Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus.

Engraved trophies with associated scholarships were presented to winners of the Final Competitions:  Catherine Lawrence, winner of the Rose Bowl and Scholarship for voice; Silver Tray Alumnus award and scholarship went to William Alexander for piano; Stephanie Leung Memorial Scholarship and Trophy to Matthew Zhou; Thomas J. Cunniffe Scholarship (TVDSB) went to Patrick Smithers for instrument class (trumpet).  There was no winner this year for the Silver Tray (piano) or for the Don Durkee Scholarship (for a previous winner of the Thomas J. Cunniffe Scholarship).

Throughout the evening the many other scholarships were presented by  Malcolm Rust, Pat Martyn, Trudy Kanellis, Nancy Lovelock, Nancy Stormes, Elaine Catchpole, Alma Roberts, Ron Somerville and Skip Phoenix.

The Rotary Foundation President Trudy Kanellis expressed thanks to the donors of the scholarship funds who have made the festival possible and who have given the music community  the encouragement so greatly needed and appreciated.  She thanked the organizers and especially Ron Somerville, who worked tirelessly on behalf of the Festival.

And what is Music? “A mind altering noise with the potential to induce joy, happiness, memories, bliss, merriment and mirth.” Quote presented by Malcolm Rust from  www.skaijuice.com

Thanks to Rotary Foundation for article and photos.