Two of Lacombe’s finest young artists have won the chance to compete for the title of Canada’s best.
The Lacombe and District Music Festival is part of a Canada wide competition for young artists to hone their craft and gain invaluable performing and life skills.
Of the 389 group competitors and 137 solo competitors at the 37th annual Lacombe and District Music Festival, eight competitors achieved marks high enough to be recommended to the Alberta-wide Provincial Level of competition held on May 27th through June 2nd 2018.
Deepa Johnny, Brooklyn Figursky, Clint Emerson Colegrave, Emily Vaillant, Harbour Lehocky, Solomon Willcoks, Zoe McCormick and Sandra Glover competed in 16 events comprising everything from Speech to Musical Theatre, Vocal Solo to Percussion. Many of these Provincial hopefuls competed in multiple events.
Competition at the Alberta Music Festival was intense this year and the marks were very close and higher than they have ever been.
Emily Vaillant and Harbour Lehocky both placed second, with distinction, in Musical Theatre Ballad Solo Senior and Piano Solo Grade/Level 9 & 10 respectively.
Deepa Johnny’s Provincial performance in Classical Solo Voice resulted in recommendation to compete at the National Level of competition held in August at Sackville New Brunswick.
“I have had a wonderful experience competing in the Lacombe Music Festival,” Johnny said. “It is so important for young singers to receive that exposure, performance opportunities and constructive and educated criticism that ultimately aid in the development of the voice.
“I am absolutely thrilled and honoured to have won the Provincial National Class this year. My experiences at the local festival has equipped me to compete Nationally with Canada’s best.”
Clint Emerson Colegrave, 12, was also recommended to the National Level of Competition in the Orchestral Percussion Solo Class.
“I am overjoyed to be off to Nationals this year,” Colegrave said. “I have been performing in the Lacombe Music Festival since I was five and this win represents a dream come true.
“I have met so many wonderful friends and been influenced by there extraordinary work ethics. The discipline it takes to compete at this level will hold me in good standing for what ever life throws my way. I look forward to continuing my life lessons through competing in the festival system.”
The Lacombe and District Music Festival wishes our National Representatives all the best in there August performances and looks forward to another fine year of competition in 2019.
-Submitted by the The Lacombe and District Music Festival