Music Place Festival 2009

Music Place Festival
2009

Carter Fontaine, Keenan Wark, Darla Fleury

First Place Winners!
Carter Fontaine, Piano and Keenan Wark, Guitar with judge Darla Fleury

Our annual pop music festival, held at the Prince Arthur Hotel April 26, was another great event for Music Place. Our contestants worked hard to prepare for the contest and the fruits of their labour were evident in the performances. To all who participated, we thank you. We appreciate your efforts to prepare and we admire your courage in presenting your musicianship to be judged We're proud of you all.

The evening Highlights and Awards Concert drew a large audience from the ranks of our students' family and friends. And it was a show worth attending! The contestants who performed gave remarkable renditions of the songs they had selected for the contest earlier in the day.

All our players were outstanding but a special mention has to go to to Carter Fontaine and Keenan Wark. Carter, winner of the top award in the piano category, gave a nimble and seemingly effortless performance on the keys. Keenan, first prize winner in the guitar category, held the audience breathless with a blazing display of skill and talent on his guitar. Both of these young gentlemen are exceptionally gifted and both possess a grasp of music that is outstanding for their age. It wouldn't be a surprise to us if either or both of them became a household name someday.

The Adjudicator
Darla Fleury

Adjudicator Darla Fleury

Our adjudicator this year was Darla Fleury, a prominent musician and teacher in Thunder Bay. Darla earned a degree in Education at Lakehead University as well as a degree in Music majoring in trumpet. During her years of study, she gained a thorough knowledge of all orchestral instruments in addition to voice, piano, and guitar. Her performance experience is wide, ranging from classical concertos to the groovin' rhythms of jazz and blues.

In recent years, Darla has turned away from performance to give more of her attention to education. She devotes her time to teaching music theory, ear training, brass, woodwinds, voice, piano, and guitar. And in addition to this demanding undertaking, she still finds the time to direct a school band or a choir when the need arises. With all her varied activities, her understanding of musical principles is sure to be sound!

Thank you, Darla, for your generous participation in our 2009 Pop Festival.

Arley Cox