STRATHMORE PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION

Strathmore Performing Arts Festival (SPAF) has a primary focus of providing educational and performance opportunities for amateur musicians in the community. As such this non-competitive festival provides a 10-day educational festival where participants perform various selections in the disciplines of piano voice musical theatre speech arts strings instrumental choir and band. Adjudicators are brought in for each discipline who provide both a written adjudication as well as time to address each performer providing constructive feedback and suggestions. At the end of the festival we hold a final concert showcasing adjudicator nominated performers. This final concert is also an opportunity to recognize all participants who have been recommended to go on to compete at the provincial level as well as give out small amounts of award money to recognize achievement for various performers. Donations made by both corporations as well as private donations from patrons go towards operational costs of the festival (venue rentals instrument rentals adjudicator fees printing costs) and award money to participants. Volunteers are responsible for all of the advance planning of the festival as well as the daily operations for the duration of the festival itself. The SPAF board has monthly meetings with additional communication outside of these monthly meetings regarding relevant developments and is responsible for selecting and hiring adjudicators managing all registration of participants managing all financial operations organizing all additional volunteers to assist at the festival ordering all print materials submitting documentation to the provincial festival and any other organizational responsibilities that may arise. In addition to the nine person board SPAF also has numerous one-time volunteers who assist in the smooth running of the festival including ushers at the door of the venue and secretary to the adjudicator. The planning of and operation of the festival would not be possible without these volunteers. They are the heart of the festival and truly responsible for making things happen.