HUMBOLDT — The Humboldt Music Festival has held their annual show, limiting categories to just piano and strings in order to keep performers and families safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was important to be able to offer the youth the opportunity to do something,” said April Kozar, festival co-ordinator. “We still wanted to give them the chance to perform and show off how hard they’ve worked this year. It gives them something to look forward and to work towards.”
This is a change from last year, where piano was cut from the festival last minute as the organizers were given instructions to shut down the festival amid the early pandemic.
At the time of closing, band and vocal had already presented.
“Those students faced a huge disappointment not being able to perform, and they did all that work in 2020,” she said. “We’re glad that this year we were able to offer them the chance to do it this year.”
Last year’s show had approximately 320 entries. This year they had 168 entries, of which six were string while 162 were piano.
Kozar said these numbers aren’t too unexpected with piano typically taking the majority of the acts, with last year having about 220 entries.
“Every year it tends to fluctuate. Sometimes we have teachers retire and we don’t find new teachers.”
Other changes include cutting the final show and all performers for duets had to be from the same household.
“That limited, as well, a lot of the duets, because most of the time they’re doing duets with their friends,” she said. “Next year we’re so hoping we’ll be able to offer our full festival.”
Spectators were unable to watch the show due to pandemic regulations, resulting in the festival broadcasting the performances online on the Humboldt Music Festival Facebook page.
This is due to the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association changing their guidelines, which previously forbidden the recording of the show.
Kozar said they intend to leave the performances up for at least a month.
Scholarship recipients
Mary Corcoran- Saskatchewan Orchestra Association- $100
Michael Corcoran- Saskatchewan Orchestra Association- $50
Aaron Stock- Outstanding Performer 6 yrs & Under- $50
Jessa Yaskow- RCM Prepatory Award- $50
Calli Huls- Canadian Reportoire Class 9 yrs & under- $50
Patrycja Soluch- Recital Class 20310 (1) 9 yrs & under- $50
Jozie Schelper- Recital Class 20310 (2) 9 yrs & under- $50
Nathan Stock- Outstanding Peformer 10 yrs & under- $75
Jacob Puetz- Saskatchewan Reportoire 10 yrs & under- $50
Breanne Yaskow- Saskatchewan Reportoire 8 yrs & under- $50
Claire Millette- Recital Class 13 yrs & under- $50
Ian Stock- RCM Grade 8 Class Performance- $50
Aaden Kozar- Recital Class 11 yrs & under- $50
Colin Stock- Sonata/Sontina 12 yrs & under- $50
Brianna Kozar- Recital Class 14 yrs & under- $50
Darian Nordick- Novice Class Any Age- $50
Kayden Leier- Saskatchewan Reportoire 14 yrs & under- $50
Tanner Hall- Excellance Class Award- $200
Taryn Stock- Contemporary Idioms Award- $100
Keniel Reich- Sonatina 15 yrs & under- $100
Alyssa Yaskow and Jada Yaskow- Duet Award- $50
