Local music aficionados can enjoy literally hundreds of performances at the 80th annual New Glasgow Music Festival starting on April 17 at the North Nova Education Centre.
Hundreds of students from kindergarten to university level will put on operatic, choral, string, piano, jazz, solo, band and performances from other genres under the watchful eyes of expert adjudicators, some of whom were performers themselves.
“I think people should come to see this because it’s amazing to see the talent that comes up,” said festival secretary Pat Duggan.
All told, the festival has more than 800 music entries between its start on April 18 and the grand finale on April 29, when the Stars of the Festival Concert will run at the deCoste Centre in Pictou.
Performing in a festival like this – and winning awards – can help build up a student’s resumé for a future career in music.
Indeed, past performers have started their own students can become teachers themselves for the next generation.
“Many of the past participants have gone on to an education in music at the university level,” said Duggan.
The music festival will be held at several locations across Pictou County. The NNEC shows on April 17 run from 11:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. for Band and Percussion and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for Stage Bands. That same day, St. George’s Church on Temperance Street will show Classical Strings from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. followed by Scottish strings from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
On April 18, NNEC will host band classes from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 2:30 p.m., followed by Concert Bands at 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Trinity United Church will host the Elementary School Choir Classes from 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. and the Organ show from 3:30 to 4 p.m. St. George’s Church is running Classical Strings classes 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. First Presbyterian Church is holding Junior Voice Classes from 1 to 3:20 p.m.
On April 19, Trinity United Church will run Brass and Woodwind classes from 9:15 to 11:30 a.m., Choral and Folk Classes from 1 to 3:30 p.m. and Middle and High School Choral Classes from 6:30 to 8 p.m. First Presbyterian Church will run Woodwinds Classes from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
On April 20 at Trinity United Church, the Brass and Woodwind Classes will run from 9:30 to 11:40 a.m., at 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and Folk Classes from 6:30 to 9 p.m. First Presbyterian Church will host Junior Vocal Classes from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
On April 21, First Presbyterian Church is hosting Traditional Folk Song Classes from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and Contemporary Folk Song Classes from 1:15 to 4 p.m.
On April 22 at Trinity United Church the Vocal Classes are running from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. including operatic solos and vocal jazz.
On April 23 at Trinity United Church the Vocal Classes are at 1 to 4 p.m. and Sacred Aria Solos are from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
On April 24 at Trinity United Church the Senior Piano is at 9 to 11:30 p.m., again at 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Vocal Classes are at 6:30 to 9 p.m. At St George’s Church the Junior Piano Classes are from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and at 1 to 4 p.m. At St. Andrew’s Church (The Kirk) the Vocal Classes are from 1 to 4 p.m.
On April 25, the Trinity United Church is running the Senior Piano show from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Vocal Classes are from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The St. George’s Church is running Junior Piano from 9 a.m. to noon and again at 1 to 4 p.m. St. Andrew’s Church is running Vocal Classes (sacred solos) from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
On April 26 at Trinity United Church, the Senior Piano Classes are at 9 a.m. to noon. St. George’s Church is hosting Junior Piano from 9 a.m. to noon. St. Andrew’s Church is hosting Vocal Classes from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Family Night at Trinity United Church is at 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The Stars of the Festival Concert is on April 29 at the deCoste Centre in Pictou at 2:30 p.m.
Admission to Stars of the Festival is $8 for a regular adult ticket, $5 for students and seniors and Families $15. Admission to all other events is $3. A festival pass for $10 is also available. Please visit www.newglasgowmusicfestival.org for more information.
