The Lethbridge and District Music and Speech arts festival is back live this year, March 28- April 9.
“2020 was supposed to be our ninetieth year, but we couldn’t do it because of Covid,” said Lethbridge And District Music and Speech Festival general manager Megan Wittig.
The event was cancelled in 2020 as Covid started taking over and they decided on a completely virtual online event last year.
“A lot of really big decisions had to be made. So we’re all really excited that it will be live again,” Wittig said.
“It might get cancelled because of government restrictions, but we’re hopeful we’ll be able to push forward,” she continued.
“Performers, and volunteers are really looking forward to it,” she continued.
Submissions opened Dec. 1 and they have extended the deadline to enter to Feb
. 18. While it is mostly youth who perform at the festival, entry is open to any non-professional performer.
Most events will be taking place at the Yates Theatre, which will be open to the public. A program will cost $15 which allows admission to all events and individual events cost three dollars.
“ That’s where our headquarters is. Bands and choirs will be performing from their own rehearsal spaces, so that frees up some space. Participants 17 and under won’t have to be vaccinated though audiences, volunteers and adjudicators will have to be,” she said.
She noted audiences likely won’t be allowed for the performances at the schools.
Contemporary voice classes including Contemporary Vocal Solo Cover, Contemporary Vocal Solo Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Vocal Duet, Contemporary Vocal Group, School Contemporary Vocal Duet, School Contemporary Vocal Group, Family Music, and Community Music will be taking place at the Owl Acoustic Lounge.
“They’ll be able to perform with a live band. We getting a drummer, bassist, guitarist and keyboardist. So that’s an exciting opportunity for them,” she said.
“We’re also working on one other venue.”
There will be two concerts, Best of Musical Theatre and Stars of the Festival concert.
This year’s adjudicators are mostly from Alberta, though one is from Saskatchewan.
“I think they’re all new to us,” she said.
“The festival is an opportunity for performers to perform in front of an audience and get some feedback,” Wittig said, noting she remembers performing in the piano classes when she was young and in the vocal classes while she was completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Lethbridge in 2010.
“I just really remember enjoying the opportunity to get feedback and perform in front of an audience,” she said.
Registration is now open and has been extended until 11:59 pm on Friday, February 18, 2022. We encourage all musicians and speech artists, of any age and ability, to register and participate in the Lethbridge & District Music & Speech Arts Festival Society in 2022. To register, visit http://lethmsf.org/reg/.
In the event of a government-mandated shutdown or cancellation of the festival, all registrants will receive a full refund.
— by Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
