The community’s enthusiasm played a big part in the success of bringing back the Bella Coola Festival of the Arts.
Heather Ross said the festival had not happened since 2020, mainly due to COVID and its after effects.
“This year was a “start-up year” to determine if there was sufficient interest and commitment for continuing this entertaining and worthwhile annual event,” Ross said. “This festival was always supported by School District 49 (Central Coast), the Bella Coola Arts Council, and the Bella Coola Awards Foundation.
Ross said these organizations were enthusiastic about getting the festival up and running again.
Entries were down from other years, but there were enough entries to fill three sessions.
Several of the entries were from the music and band program of NES and SAMS schools under the direction of Alex Fawcett-Riis.
Ross said it was the first time for both the students and Ms. Fawcett-Riis to have their work adjudicated, which was a learning process for all involved.
“The Bella Coola Festival has always been a non-competitive festival to encourage children (and adults) to perform in public and to learn from positive feedback,” Ross said.
Any serious entries have the option of going on to provincial festivals, if they choose, as the Bella Coola Festival continues to be a member of the Provincial Festival organization.
This year’s adjudicator was John White, who has adjudicated the festival in Bella Coola several times previously.
White, who has worked extensively in music and arts-related programs, is a retired director of instruction for the Burnaby School District and a former director of the New Westminster Concert Band.
Ross said in Bella Coola White has been able to adjudicate everything from little ballet dancers in pink tutus to polished school concert bands and has the gift of being able to watch and listen and then give positive and instructive comments useful to the performers and their teachers.
In addition to the school bands, there were some fiddle and piano entries which were “quite delightful,” and a more serious dramatic arts entry that was “thought-provoking,” Ross said.
“Thanks to the families and community members, including Janice Kyle, Fred Sorensen, Moira McIlwain, Dave Ford and DeeAnna Dennis, and all those who attended the sessions for their support and commitment to the children of this valley,” she added.
With files from Heather Ross