President’s Report

Festival 2007

From my perspective, Festival 2007 was a great success. On behalf of our Board and our community, I would like to congratulate every performer in Festival 2007! I continue to be amazed at the talent and versatility of performers here on the Sunshine Coast. This year we were delighted to introduce two new disciplines, Folk Instrumental and Classical Dance. Many young performers participated in 2 or 3 different disciplines, as soloists as well as members of ensembles. With three full weeks of fine performances in seven disciplines to showcase, our annual Highlights Concert was even more difficult than usual to plan – it could have taken place over a whole weekend, instead of only a few hours! This year we were very pleased with the new format for our Piano Encore and Highlights Concerts that provided non-stop entertainment for our audiences, followed by awards presentations. We’d like more opportunities for Festival performers to share their love of performing with our community in the coming year. Our adjudicators noted that it was a pleasure to come to the Sunshine Coast Festival that celebrates performing, a refreshing change from the competitive environment many other Festivals.

Following the recommendation of our Awards Committee, chaired by Past President Dorothy Fraser, our expenditure for cash awards increased this year by over $1000. With the support of the Sunshine Coast Arts Council, a trophy case for displaying Festival awards is located here at the Arts Centre, where award winners can return trophies next January for Festival 2008.

Our annual celebration of Coast talent would not be possible without our performers’ supportive families, dedicated music teachers, as well as our wonderful Festival volunteers, generous donors and enthusiastic audiences. Festival continues to benefit from the many hours spent by community volunteers – in particular, Terry Andrews contributes countless hours producing the Festival Syllabus and Program. Many thanks,Terry. We are also very grateful for the continuing support of Interfor, where Betty and John Paterson spent many fun hours photocopying Festival material. Thanks also to dedicated Festival volunteer Bob D’Arcy who is our webmaster. Our partnership with School District 46 provided Festival with access to Chatelech Theatre at no cost. We are very grateful to great Festival volunteer Kerry Mahlman for all her help this year, including as our Highlights Concert stage manager.

Many thanks to our hard-working Board members for their dedication over the past year. This year the composition of our Board changed, when Piano Chair Margaret Webb was unable to continue because of her health. We were delighted that Tom Kellough kindly agreed to replace Margaret on our Board. Serena Eades is also a newcomer to our Board, replacing departing Strings Co-Chair Germaine FooFat, as well as our new Folk Instrumental discipline. Kelly Smit, who has previous Board experience, became our Co-Chair for Percussion, Woodwinds and Brass. We are also delighted to have Luci Herder with us for Electronic & Acoustic. Veteran’s Kathleen Hovey and Shelley Dillon continue to be major contributors to our Board. We are very appreciative of the time dedicated to Festival by all of our Discipline Chairs.

Veteran Board Treasurer Aline McNeill is retiring after several years of dedicated service. Gwen Hawkins (Publicity), Ellen Rowa (Fund Raising) are also leaving our Board this year. Val Anderson (RMT Liaison) and PWB Co-Chir Joe Hatherill will also be missed. We know they will continue as Festival volunteers and supporters – many thanks, Aline, Gwen, Ellen, Val and Joe! Fortunately Board veterans Betty Paterson, Patti Gunning, and Dorothy Fraser will be here with our Discipline Chairs and new Board members to work with the community on Festival 2008!