Preparation for the 2024 Southeastern Manitoba Festival Music (SEMF) is well underway even though the committee itself has been short-handed for quite some time now. 

Missy Taylor, a member of the executive team, says they’ve been very busy working on creating a great festival experience, though without a President or Vice-President. 

“But everyone on the committee is so committed to keeping music in our community, so it's really important, even though there aren't as many of us, we are still putting on a full festival.” 

Since COVID, they’ve had to reduce the number of Disciplines they offer, but Taylor says there are still many options to hear young musical talent from the southeast. 

“So, some people won't be surprised to hear this, but we have a vocal section in our festival as well as a musical theatre section. So those two are separate disciplines. Then we have a string section, junior piano, senior piano and of course, choral, which is always so lovely for those grandparents and parents to come and see their kids during the day perform at the church.”  

When it comes to which Discipline has the most entries, Taylor notes that it’s usually Junior Piano, followed closely by Senior Piano competitors. Then as to which Discipline was the one most likely to get more spectators, Taylor says perhaps the Musical Theatre performances,  

“It's a really, really great way to spend your day if you can come. There are kids in costumes. They've performed all of these routines within their musical theatre pieces, so it's really entertaining and it's a great way to spend the day. It is not expensive. You can bring your family out and just enjoy some really great music and a show.”  

Taylor says for families wondering whether they should encourage their children to participate in future festivals, she would highly encourage it. 

“It is such a fabulous idea. There is a certain skill set that you learn, and you practice in music and arts and things like that, you just don't get anywhere else. And so, yeah, growing up in the festival, I actually attribute a lot of my confidence to performing in Festival. Taking voice lessons, piano lessons and putting myself out there. Maybe sometimes not hearing what I wanted to hear, and maybe, you know, things don't always go as smoothly as we hope, but it's a really great lesson to learn in a really safe and loving environment.” 

Taylor notes that as a mom with her son participating in his first festival in spring, she is very excited for him.  

When it comes to festival adjudicators, Taylor says they are not all in place just yet.  

“We have a smattering of adjudicators this year, we don't have all of those finalized yet, but I can tell you our vocal adjudicator is Judith Oatway. She's amazing. She has such a bubbly, fun personality and she is coming from Winnipeg. She's involved with the university.”  

“We try and bring in adjudicators who have a lot of experience, they know exactly how to talk to kids. Sometimes parents are a little bit worried that, you know, they're going to be tough on their kids, but they understand, they went through the festival process themselves. They have performed. They are so loving and kind and just give such wonderful feedback. So, every single kid, no matter the outcome, is going to come out with a positive experience and some really great feedback to work.” 

For now, music students will have a little break for Christmas and then really get into preparation mode early in the year. 

Taylor tells us when the 2024 SEMF will begin. 

“So, we're going to start mid-February. Vocal competitions always start off the festival and we're starting on February 19, and then we're going to move into the string's disciplines and junior piano, some choral musical theatre, and we're going to end off our festival at the end of March, right before spring break with our senior piano discipline.” 

For those wishing to purchase a 2024 SEMF festival pass or they’d like more information on this year's performances and information on adjudicators, or even volunteer, visit their website. 

 

With files from Michelle Sawatzky

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