New music festival experience for students at the Owl

By Ry Clarke - for the Lethbridge Herald on April 5, 2022.

Herald photo by Ry Clarke Addy Miller performs Dandelions by Ruth Berhe to a live audience at the Owl Ocoustic Lounge last week as part of the Lethbrige and District Music & Speech Festival.

Lethbridge and District Music and Speech Arts Festival concluded its first week of competition, showcasing artists in musical theatre, choral, guitar, speech, and piano.
Thursday night residents were treated to a free event at the Owl Acoustic Lounge singing contemporary pieces with a live band, a first for the festival. During the festival performers from all ages compete in their class of talent, receiving a score out of 100 on their performance, along with advice from adjudicators, chosen from provincial association candidates for their talent and skills in the field.
Competing in the festival helps many performers get out and have opportunities to perform to live audiences. Last year the festival took place online and competitors were limited to filming themselves and submitting their entries.
Festival contestant Riley Vanderburgh took part in last year’s event, saying performing live gives him more opportunities to meet everyone and see how they are developing different skills.
“Online felt a lot less fun, a lot more restricted. Because you can only move around as much as you can. But here you can move around, draw the attention of everyone, you know when people are joining in so you can gauge what you should do.”
Performers were given the opportunity to sing with a live band, an opportunity many have never experienced, and also explore new dynamics with venues bringing in different audiences. In the Yates Memorial Theatre performers have more control over distractions and audio levels. But in the Owl Acoustic Lounge performers had to utilize a stage with musicians, crowds of people coming and going, and amplifying their voices to be heard over patrons, which allows them to develop skills they may never have gotten the opportunity to utilize.
Megan Wittig, general manager for the festival, links this to skills that will aid them in the future.
“It’s a learning opportunity, preparing yourself for something like this is a whole other skill. A lot of people are so much better at public speaking because they did this as a kid. Giving you confidence; if I’m prepared, I can do it.”
Addy Miller was competing at the Owl Thursday night, performing Dandelions by Ruth Berhe in the 12 and under contemporary vocal solo class.
Miller says she comes into the competition trying to have fun while also learning what styles she likes to sing while giving her new chances to experience.
“A lot of the stuff they tell me really helped me. And hearing stuff like that helps me with how I move. I’m really aware of it, so I know what to work on and other stuff.”
Miller’s father, Colin Miller, says he is proud to see his daughter on stage and getting to do something that she does on her own.
“You know what, it’s funny, you get nervous for them. It’s such a joy, and I mean, as a parent it’s just fun to see them and doing something that’s extremely brave, because I sure couldn’t bring myself to do something like that.”