The music festival has had a drop in participants since the COVID-19 pandemic. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)
competition

Music festival struggling to return to pre-COVID numbers

Mar 28, 2023 | 2:35 PM

Up to 50 performers are competing in 35th annual La Ronge and Area Music Festival.

“When the festival first started 30 years ago, teachers from all disciplines came together to create a really unique festival,” said organizer Tamara Putz.

“We have performances in classical piano, we have popular arranged piano, we have piano with there being a band in the background they have to play with. We have singing of all different styles from pop to classical to musical theatre and we have some violin and stuff as well.”

The festival is occurring Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Alliance Church in La Ronge. An Outstanding Performance Concert is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m.

“We offer scholarships for top marks in the festival and so on Thursday they come back and perform and get their scholarships,” Putz said. “It’s open to the public. It’s free. Just come and grab a seat.”

Putz explained the music festival in having a hard time bouncing back after the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, there were approximately 70 people participating and it lasted for four days with a risk of running into a fifth day. This year and in 2022, the festival has only been three days.

“We also have an issue where we are getting fewer piano teachers teaching in our community,” Putz said. “One of the ones who have half the entries is in her 70s, so she will be retiring at some point in time. Hopefully, people will take on those students.”

This year’s adjudicator is Lynette Sawatsky from Saskatoon. She has taught both group and private lessons, worked as a music specialist in the Saskatoon Public System, and participated as a guest piano clinician and adjudicator throughout Saskatchewan.

Festival participants who earn a score of 88 and higher are invited to provincials in Regina from June 1 to 4.

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno

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