A conversation with Beryl Bass seems to typify the values behind the 33rd annual Sunshine Coast Festival of the Performing Arts opening in Sechelt this week.
Over the years, Bass has contributed money towards a scholarship to benefit young violinists.
"I'm not looking for a hotshot violinist," says Bass, who makes the decision about suitable candidates for the scholarship. "I'm looking for the ones who practise and who know who wrote the piece of music. It doesn't have to be played at the highest level, but the promise must be there."
She selects the piece to be performed and sometimes surprises the young performers by asking questions about the music. The result is a satisfaction on Bass's part that the scholarship money goes into good hands and will motivate the students. This year, she has awarded the Philip Bass Memorial Scholarship, named after her late professional musician husband, to local teenager Holly Beckmyer and 10-year-old Esme McLaughlin-Brooks.Philip Bass had been a professional violinist all his life, playing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Oklahoma Sym-phony, among others. When he was assistant concertmaster for the San Antonio Symphony, Beryl, a professional singer who has also taught music, auditioned for a church choir where she met her future husband. She not only got the job, she became engaged to Philip in the space of a few months. In later years, when the couple retired to Sechelt, Beryl continued to sing with Soundwaves and to enjoy the festival as a choral musician.Bass will be leaving the Coast this week to move to Montreal. Her memorial award will continue under the auspices of the festival. She will continue to pick the music, and festival adjudicators will now award the scholarship.
Over the years, hundreds of young people and adults appearing at the festival have used the sponsor-donated awards to further their education. With the support of community donors, 80 scholarships, trophies and medals are awarded annually. Many young musicians are pursuing post-secondary education with financial assistance from their festival awards. Several are now professional musicians. Recent donations for festival 2006 include an award in the electronic and acoustic music category funded by the Sechelt Seniors' Centre. St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church has doubled their award for collaborative music. The Coast Philharmonic Orchestra contribution commemorates the late Tom Kershaw, and donations from family and friends of the late Peggy Burritt will fund a new vocal duet award.
Although almost 400 entrants have registered this year, Sue Milne, festival chair, would like to see more entries in the category of electronic music which, she feels, allows for a more creative interpretation.
"It's an opportunity for students who are not following a traditional music study program," she says.
This has been the first year the festival has partnered with School District No. 46, and Milne would like to build on that. Directors hope that by holding some of the events at the Chatelech Theatre, within the high school, it will spark more student interest.
The festival opens with piano competition and proceeds into strings this week from April 24 to 26 at various locations, including St. Hilda's Church and Chatelech Theatre. Vocal performances are on April 27 and 28. Instrumental is May 1 and 2.The sessions are open to the public. Admission is by donation. More information about times and locations can be found on www.coastfestival.com.
