Sea to Sky youths and adults interested in furthering their musical studies and getting to know some of the area's talented music teachers should make sure to attend Inspiration, a concert benefitting the Howe Sound Music Festival (HSMF) on Sunday (Jan. 22) at St. John's Anglican Church.
"This is the third annual Music Festival benefit concert," said Veronica McPhee, executive director of HSMF. "When we first started this, I had no idea it would become an annual event."
Although the HSMF does charge an entry fee to music students, McPhee said fundraising was needed to offset the cost of adjudicators, printing and other necessities for the festival.
"We really couldn't do it without the benefit concert and partnering with local businesses," she said.
Sunday's concert features a variety of music performed by local music teachers, as well as HSMF alumni.
"We have quite a varied program," said McPhee. "As the HSMF is for voice, choir and piano, we've asked our teachers to represent all the different categories of the festival."
McPhee said she will cover the folk category herself at the concert.
"In addition, we have guitar, classical piano and also a piano trio, which is a piano, violin and flute," she said. "And the concert is short - only about an hour. But it is a good place to come and find out about the festival. It serves two roles - to raise funds and also to raise awareness of the festival."
Founded in 2001 by Colleen Koop, the HSMF is now in its 11th year, with classes held in both Squamish and Whistler.
Produced by the Howe Sound Performing Arts Association, the festival allows those studying private voice and piano an opportunity to perform pieces for an adjudicator and then receive verbal and written feedback for their performances.
Typically the festival attracts more than 150 piano and vocal students performingsomewhere in the neighbourhood of 200pieces during the five-day event. Participating students may also be selected to represent the district at the provincial level, and the festival is also a steppingstone for all students preparing for their Royal Conservatory exams.
The HSMF runs April 10 to 15, and registration is currently open.
The Inspiration benefit concert takes place Sunday (Jan. 22) at 2 p.m. at St. John's Anglican Church. Admission is by donation.
For more on the HSMF or to register, go to www.musicfestivalweb.com.
