The best local talent will be on stage at the Capitol Theatre and at various churches around town.
Dancing, piano, strings and a selection of other performing arts will be showcased and adjudicated at the Kootenay Festival of the Arts.
Over 500 dancers, string players, pianists, and singers will be performing in the Capitol, and Nelson United, Bethel Christian, Evangelical Covenant Churches. The Festival begins next week with young dancers from the West Kootenay, the Okanagan, and Spokane.
“It’s generally so students can get specific help with how they are doing with their private teachers,” said Bruce Hunter with the festival.
The Kootenay festival is one of 34 in the province and each is an independent festival.
“Some are competing, most are not, and adjudicators can select performers if they are ready to go to the provincials,” he said.
The Kootenay Music Festival had its inception with representatives of the Trail Veteran’s Orchestra and the Nelson Symphony Orchestra setting up a joint committee to plan for a Kootenay-wide festival in the spring of 1930. Founders realized that one of the most challenging problems was a suitable venue for the large number of participants and audiences anticipated. The decision to use both the Trinity Church and the Opera House proved very wise as, within a short time, nearly 1,000 competitors were registered in 187 classes.
The Dance venues run March 27 to 31 with the Capitol Gala Concert on March 31.
The rest of the performances run April 10 to 14, with the Capitol Gala Concert on April 14.
For a full list of events and details about the festival visit the festival’s website at kootenayfestivalofthearts.ca