The North Hastings Music Festival, which has been going on for more than 65 years, got underway yesterday and is continuing throughout this week.
Janet Whiteway of the festival committee said the festival got off to a good start, with a couple rock bands, singers, and guitarists. This afternoon at North Hastings High School featured winds and percussion, including student bands from the school.
The non-competitive festival offers musicians an opportunity to play in front of an audience and get feedback from professional adjudicators.
Piano performances are coming up through the rest of this week, which Whiteway said is one of their biggest categories.
The Festival of Stars Show next Thursday wraps up the annual event, highlighting performances from all categories.
“Basically, it’s an awards ceremony, so the kids get all these different awards for things they will have done during the music festival,” Whiteway said.
The show will also include a guest performance by pianist Thomas Nicholson. Whiteway said Nicholson grew up in Barry’s Bay and was involved with the music festival for many years, and is currently completing a music degree.
Shelley Lavoy is also a committee member and a current staff member at the high school, who participated in the music festival as a youth.
She said it is really great to see the next generation of young people still interested in taking part in the festival.
“I think it’s really cool because I can see the people who I went to school with, now it’s their kids that are going through it,” she said.
All festival events are open to the public, and a full program is available on the music festival website.
