Rotary Burlington Music Festival Produces Fifteenth Set Of Top Performers

Grand Festival Concert Rewards The Highest Standards Of Performance

2013 Burlington Rotary Music Festival Top Winners
(From left to right) Krizia Natale, Sophia Petrushkina, Alyssa DiMarco,
Ana Nikolova, Annie Drysdale
Photo: Marie Creswell

The Burlington Performing Arts Centre was a fitting venue for the Fifteenth Rotary Burlington Music Festival Grand Festival Concert on November 23, 2013. The event and the venue are testaments to the pursuit of excellence, and so are the young musician-finalists that took the stage.

The Grand Festival Concert was adjudicated by Kimberly Barber and Jennifer Knelman. The concert showcased many of the top students from the week long festival which took place at a number of venues throughout Burlington.

Sophie Petrushkina
Photo: Marie Creswell

Sophie Petrushkina went home with a big $1250 cheque in her hand as the Festival's top prize winner for Most Promising Overall Student. Her nimble fingers scampered over the keys flawlessly in "Toccatina, Op.8 no.1" by Samuil Maikapar, but the most fascinating and convincing aspect of her performance was the pure joy and complete engagement of her entire being. Unmistakenly genuine. In addition to the Most Promising Overall Student, Irish Family Memorial Scholarship, Sophie was the winner of Festival Most Outstanding Scholarship in Intermediate Piano for $175 and she was awarded a Provincial Recommendation for Grade 7 Piano. Adjudicator Kimberly Barber remarked that Sophie demonstrated "a formidable combination of technical brilliance and convincing communication."

Of this year's over 600 registrants, forty were awarded Provincial Recommendations, allowing them to participate in the 2014 provincial competition. Twenty-six of last year's Rotary Burlington Music Festival participants won prizes at the provincials.

Alyssa DiMarco was the Runner-up for Most Promising Overall Student The soprano performed Rossini's "Una Voce Poco Fa" from Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Alyssa's vocal flexibility and range were remarkable for her age. She understood the playful nature of the piece, with her final note being a high E to wow the audience. She won the Festival Most Outstanding Scholarship in Senior Voice for $225 and received a Provincial Recommendation for Grade 10 Voice.

Alyssa DiMarco
Photo by Marie Creswell

Some more Grand Festival Concert Highlights:

Annie Drysdale, performing the challenging "Vanilla Ice Cream" from Bock/Harnick musical She Loves Me

• Winner of Sandra Brewer Founder's Scholarship for Most Outstanding Intermediate Performer: $150
• Winner of Robert Elstone Memorial Scholarship $600
• Winner of Designated Scholarship: Canadian Composer Vocal Scholarship $75
• Provincial Recommendation: Intermediate Voice
• At 2013 Provincials, she won Second Place in Intermediate Music Theatre, and Honorable Mention in Grade 7 Voice.

Annie Drysdale
Photo: Marie Creswell

Ana Nikolova, performing "Air varie Op.23 No.3" by Oscar Rieding

• Winner of Most Promising Young Performer, Runner-up: $200
• Winner of Intermediate Scholarship, String: $150

Kailin Brown's rousing, animated delivery of Morris Panych's "Girl In The Goldfish Bowl" in the Speech Arts category

• Winner of Designated Scholarship in Speech Arts: $125
• Provincial Recommendation: Speech Arts

Krizia Natale, who convincingly embodied the lighthearted and lengthy "My Party Dress" from Kerrigan/Lowdermilk's Henry and Mudge

• Winner of Most Promising Young Performer: $500
• Winner of Designated Scholarship: Junior Music Theatre: $125
• Winner of Designated Scholarship: Intermediate Music Theatre: $150
• Provincial Recommendation: Junior Music Theatre

Krizia Natale
Photo: Marie Creswell

Alex Loe's poignant performance of the touching "Field Of Stars" from Miller/Saer's The Growing Season

• Winner of Designated Scholarship in Senior Music Theatre: $200
• Provincial Recommendation: Senior Music Theatre

Daniel Song's convincing performance of Chopin's "Polonaise in G-sharp minor, Op. Posth."

• Provincial Recommendation: Grade 10 Piano

The Burlington Rotary Music Festival committee has a significant group of volunteers that faithfully serve to make each year's festival a resounding success. New categories in World Music, Recorder Ensembles, Chamber Ensembles, Guitar Orchestras and Ukelele Groups were added this year, laying the foundation for the festival's continued growth and relevance.

Recording Scholarships, donated by Mirriam Music, were awarded by draw to five festival participants, with the $2500 Recording Scholarship being won by Daniel Song.

Adjudicator Kimberly Barber wrapped up the night saying, "To give a prize to the best artist is always a difficult job. We weigh different qualities, elements of technique, musicianship. I would like to honour all the parents and family members. Without your support and admonitions to practice, these young people would not be where they are today."

www.rotarymusicfest.org