Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor:
The 65th Annual Chatham Kiwanis Music Festival and Grand Concert have drawn to a close for another year. It was a successful event with approximately 875 entries from Chatham-Kent, Windsor and Essex areas. Many happy participants have gone home with trophies, plaques and monetary awards while all entrants have gone away much richer from the advice of a highly qualified adjudicator and their overall Festival learning experience. Thanks must be extended to the entrants themselves who worked hard to achieve excellence and to the music teachers whose professionalism helped prepare them for performing before an audience and an adjudicator. Parents are also recognized for the encouragement and support they provided.
It is said that ‘it takes a community to raise a child” but the Chatham-Kent community has also demonstrated that “it takes a community to organize and support a Music Festival”. The Festival Committee and the Kiwanis Club of Chatham wish to express appreciation to the entire Chatham-Kent community. Over 70 volunteers generously donated time to serve as desk secretaries and doorpersons. Corporate sponsors and Friends of the Festival donations helped cover operational costs. Donations from individuals, businesses and organizations made possible the distribution of $10,500 in awards to assist participants in future musical studies.
Festival organizers appreciated the support of staff at Chatham Baptist Church and Chatham Cultural Centre who welcomed participants and audiences to their facilities. Special recognition must be given to Comfort Inn for donating overnight accommodation for adjudicators.
The Committee especially thanks Chatham-Kent media, including CKTimes, for keeping the public informed about the Festival by publishing announcements and media releases. Special thanks is also extended to TVCOGECO for videotaping the Grand Concert for airing on Cable 11.
It would not be possible to organize the Festival without the support of so many in the community.
Festival organizers are seeking new volunteers to join the Festival organization team.
Thank you.
Chuck Scott, Festival Committee Chair
Mary Alice Marchand, Publicity Chair
Chatham Kiwanis Music Festival Committee
