Aspiring vocalist encourages youth to explore classical music
The passion Oliver Dingwell has for classical music was once again confirmed this summer, and he says he owes it all to the Corner Brook Rotary Music Festival.
It is somewhat rare for a young man in western Newfoundland to have, and display, such an interest in classical music.
Dingwell attributes that to a lack of opportunity and awareness of this particular art.
“In Corner Brook, we pride ourselves on being an arts community, but we do lack an exposure to classical music,” he told members of the Corner Brook Rotary Club Thursday.
“Sure, we do get to listen and play a bit through summer festivals and travelling groups, but we have very little opportunity for young performers to share their gift of music with the public.”
However, the Corner Brook Rotary Festival provides that opportunity.
Dingwell has 13 years of experience in the annual music event, this past year named the Senior Rose Bowl winner. He twice represented Corner Brook in provincial competition, but it was a familiar face to the local music scene which provided him his latest honour.
In July, he attended the Summer Opera Academy at St. Michael’s University School in Victoria, B.C., on a recommendation from Joanne Hounsell, a Pasadena native who is artistic and creative director at the academy. Local aspiring musicians Ian Locke, Michaela O’Connor, Julia Quinton, Emma Croll-Baehre and Marta Croll-Baehre also attended the two-week program. As well as Hounsell, they studied with well known and established musicians Lorna MacDonald, Winston Noren and Bernard Turgeon.
They immersed themselves in intensive rehearsals, master classes, and private lessons, all leading to a performance of “The Magic Flute” by W.A. Mozart.
Dingwell, who will pursue a music degree at Memorial University in the fall, said the academy helped prepare him for his upcoming post-secondary program in many ways.
However, it turned out to be much more of an eye-opener into the music industry.
“I could never have imagined the incredible quality of the program, the world-class faculty or the lasting impacts that this program will have on the rest of my life,” he said.
He thanked the club for providing the avenue that made attending this academy possible.
“The Rotary Music Festival is the best way for our children, youth and young adults interested in performance to get experience and to receive feedback from professionals,” he said.
“The knowledge I have gathered from adjudicators over the years made it possible for me to advance my singing to a level where I would be participate in a program such as this. For that, I am eternally grateful.”
He said he hopes the festival continues to flourish, continuing to provide opportunities for youth well into the future.
“It is my profound wish that we continue to encourage all who have an interest in classical music to perform in the festival, but to also experience programs such as these where musicianship can be brought to the next level,” he said.