There are just a few days for young musicians and performers to get their registration in if they want to take part in the 2011 Penticton Kiwanis Music Festival.
Registration closes on Jan. 31 for competition in the festival, which takes place from April 5 to 8 this year, but organizers have made it possible to complete the entire process online this year.
“This is the first year that we have used PayPal, so they will be able to pay online rather than mailing in cheques,” said Karen McPherson, director of marketing for the society which operates the annual competition locally.
Headed into it’s 85th year, the Penticton festival is well established, drawing 1,300 to 1,500 participants to compete in a variety of performances.
There are many competitions continued McPherson, but not all offer the opportunity for competitors to continue on to provincial and national levels, as the Kiwanis music festivals do.
“Dance piano, guitar, speech … it’s just a huge range. About 10 different categories and lots of smaller categories within those,” said McPherson. “It’s really highly respected too.”
Putting it all together takes a lot of work and the volunteers that make up the board of directors are supplemented by a larger group during the actual event.
“I think there is about 10 of us on the board. They do the majority of the background and prep work,” said McPherson. “After that, we have a huge volunteer base. We are always looking for new volunteers, because all of the venues are manned by volunteers.”
It also takes a lot of money to put the festival on, she continued, adding that they are also looking for donors and sponsors.
“We’re like everyone else, we’re not rolling in money,” she said. The money that is brought in is usually all paid out to bring in high-level adjudicators and for the venues.
“And then, of course, you have to give awards to your outstanding competitors.”
Registration information is available online at www.pkmf.org. More information is also available by calling the festival office at 250-493-8322.