PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE, 2016
SO WHAT’S NEW?
Watching the advertisements for the “new” I Phone 6 made me think,
strangely enough, of the Pacific Northwest Music Festival. The ads
start with “So what’s new?” and that could be the theme of our 51st
year in operation. We just celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2015,
and are now preparing in earnest for the 2016 festival.
So, what’s new this year? How about ukulele! Yes, we are looking
forward to a group of young people strumming ukuleles - how
wonderful! How about a celebration of Shakespeare, as performed by
some very excited speech arts students?
And really, for every student in our festival, the experience of performing a new piece of music on the
piano, singing a new song, or dancing a different choreography are all new- both to them and the
audience. We listen to new adjudicators and gain new insights into the finer details of music and how it is
performed. Every year we enjoy the smallest of competitors who look forward rather anxiously to their
first music festival experience.
One might think that after 50 years people would grow tired of the concept - the “same old thing”, but no!
that is not the case. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Our festival entries are up again, (1524 to be exact), so
why is this happening? I like to think it is because our PNMF gives everyone an experience where they
can learn, be inspired by others, feel safe while sharing their performances with the audience and
adjudicator, and enjoy the challenge of trying something new.
The PNMF committee encourages everyone to come out and take in some of the many classes that are
scheduled from April 14 - 30, at the REM Lee Theatre, Knox United Church and the Evangelical Free
Church. Be sure to get your program from Sight & Sound, Misty River Book and All Seasons Sports, or
at the door. Look it over carefully, and check out those ukuleles, come listen to some Shakespeare in our
speech arts classes, watch amazing dancers, and listen to singers, pianists, harpists, instrumentalists,
school groups, bands, choirs, and orchestra. You never know - it might inspire you to try the same, and
everyone knows it’s never too late for our brains to learn something new!
Bonnie Juniper
President, PNMF