Overview

The purpose of the St. Albert Rotary Music Festival is to promote the appreciation of and participation in music, speech, and the performing arts in the community of St. Albert as well as the surrounding municipal districts.

The philosophy of the Festival is to encourage participation in the performance of these Fine Arts by the youth of our community and to foster an appreciation of music and the performing arts in an environment that is committed to excellence. We encourage and celebrate the courage required to perform before an audience of peers and adjudicators, and so offer the opportunity for performers to choose to enter either the competitive or non-competitive plan.

There are two types of awards presented by the St. Albert Festival at the recommendation of our adjudicators.

• Recommendations are awarded to attend the Provincial Festival including entry fees and are available to any participant. Exception: there are no band or dance classes offered at the Provincial Festival.

1. Scholarships are awarded at the Junior ($100), Intermediate ($150), and Senior ($200) levels to participants who reside or study in St. Albert or the surrounding municipal districts (not including Edmonton).

Other awards include the Rose Bowl presented at the Grand Concert to the performer selected as the “Best of the Festival” and the participant receives a Bouquet of Roses and a cheque for $500 as well as the trophy.

In 2006 the Lyle Moore Scholarship of $1000 was awarded for the first time to a student at the advanced level pursuing a career in music. The Elsie and Bill Filipchuk Bursary for Musical Theatre of $400 was introduced also in 2006 for a performer 16 years and under. In 2008 the Patricia Burgess Prize ($150) is being offered for the best performance of Chopin.

In 2007 the Festival processed 800 entries. The number of participants (including Bands, Choirs, etc.) exceeded 2000. Over 150 volunteers participated in the 2007 Festival, contributing more than 1500 volunteer hours.

In 2008 the Festival is alive in St. Albert 31 years. The Kiwanis Club organized the first Festival and continued the endeavor for seventeen years. The Rotary Club assumed responsibility 14 years ago and many of the recommended performers have been successful at the Provincial and National Festivals over the years.

The St. Albert Rotary Music Festival is a member of the Alberta Music Festival Association (AMFA).