Annual Music Festival Moves Online
Even with the coronavirus restrictions currently in place, young Queens County musicians still have the opportunity to be heard.
The Queens County Music Festival, scheduled to be held this weekend was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But organizers say they will be moving the format online.
They’ve invited students who had been preparing pieces to record a video and post it a newly formed Facebook page.
Normally, the annual event showcases students from grades primary to 12 performing vocal or instrumental arrangements for a panel of experts to adjudicate.
Organizer, Charmaine Stevens says students deserve the chance to show their hard work without the pressures of a normal festival.
“The students are not going to be adjudicated, this is just for fun.”
Over 400 performances were scheduled over the course of the weekend.
This year would have marked the 75th anniversary of the Queens County Music Festival, making it one of the oldest in the province.
Stevens says participants always do well with several making it to provincials each year and four even going all the way to nationals.
“We’ve had many, many students come from the Queens County Festival that performed every year for 15 years and many of them have gone on in musical careers, [and] studied music in university.”
Stevens says the organizers would love to see some of the past participants submit a video as well.
Anyone wishing to do so can go to the Queens County Music Festival Virtual Concert Facebook page.
You can do by clicking this link.
Reported by Ed Halverson
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson