Violist Katie McBean is heading to Edmonton next month to compete at the National Music Festival, hosted annually by the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals (FCMF). McBean, a fourth-year BMus (Music Education) student in Don Wright Faculty of Music professor Sharon Wei’s viola studio, earned her entrance by winning the Open Strings category in June at the Kiwanis provincial competition in Peterborough.
The National Music Festival invites Canada’s best young amateur musicians from across the country, ranging in age from 12-28, to compete and represent their province in nine disciplines: piano, strings, voice, woodwinds, brass, classical guitar, percussion, chamber groups and musical theatre. FCMF is the umbrella organization for 230-plus local and provincial festivals.
Western was well represented across many categories at the provincial competition. Among the provincial award-winners were several alumni band and choral conductors, in addition to alumni and students placing well in open categories. McBean’s pianist is Western alumna Janelle Scharringa.
London audience members will have the chance to hear McBean’s repertoire during a free performance – designed to help her prepare and “get some nerves out” before the competition – at 7 p.m. Thursday in von Kuster Hall, Music Building.
The 46th annual National Music Festival takes place Aug. 11-13 with the Grand Concert on Aug. 13.