Enjoy the talent at this weekend’s performing arts festival
Every year for the past 70 years, talented dancers, singers, orators, pianists and instrumentalists of all ages have headed to Te Awamutu to compete in its Festival of Performing Arts.
This year the festival runs from Saturday, September 23.
Dance (tap, jazz, ballet) is the most popular section and this year will have more than 880 items.
Each year when entries open there is a rush from around New Zealand to enrol. The upper limit of entries is reached within a day.
The Speech and Drama section, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, provides the opportunity to watch young thespians entertaining with poetry, prose, improvisation, and characterisation.
The Highland Dance competition will be held on Saturday, September 30.
Convener Lyn McCorquindale says local competitors are looking forward to competing again.
From Saturday to Monday audiences at the Vocal Section will be treated to an outstanding programme of songs, songs and more songs: sacred, folk, English language art, German lieder, opera, and light entertainment.
The Vocal Section performances are greatly enhanced by the acoustics of the “user-friendly” venue, St John’s Anglican Church.
Competitors are divided into performance groups by age. All day Saturday and part of Sunday, audiences will be treated to the 18 years and over age group including voice students from Waikato and Victoria Universities.
The highlight, as always, will be the Aria Competition held on Saturday afternoon. The calibre of performance is high and there is the opportunity to listen to New Zealand’s future vocalŌ representatives.
Come Sunday afternoon to watch the talented 15 to under-18-year group.
On Monday, one of our favourite days, we will watch those singers under 15. These children are starting out on what we hope will be a long musical journey.
It is a privilege to secure Judy Bellingham as our adjudicator. Judy has recently retired as an Associate Professor of Voice at Otago University, where she was employed for the past 25 years.
Unfortunately, due to undersubscription, pianoforte will not be running this year and for lack of a convenor nor will Instrumental as Gill Earwaker has retired after 20 years.
The competitions would not happen without the support of the sponsors and volunteers.
Festival organisers say Te Awamutu can feel proud that so many of the local families, businesses and organisations give generously to this worthwhile event.
Come along and enjoy a superb level of performance arts in the following venues: Vocal — St John’s Anglican Church; Speech and Drama — Methodist Church; Dance (Tap, Jazz, Ballet) Te Awamutu College Hall; Highland Dance, haupō School.