Porcupine Music Festival goes virtual this year, giving students a chance to perform despite pandemic
Every year, people who study music through private lessons in the Timmins area get a chance to have live performances adjudicated during the Porcupine Music Festival.
It's an annual showcase that's been going on for decades. However, this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers are hosting a virtual festival for the first time.
“Last year was not virtual. We just highlighted their videos that they sent into us on our social media platforms," said Mary Ellen Pauli, president of the Porcupine Music Festival de Musique.
She said there are more than two-hundred entries to this year's 81st festival. Vocal, piano, instrument, and string students were all given an opportunity to prepare, record, and submit videos of their pieces to the Festival's organizers.
Long-time festival participant and now piano teacher, Jessica Kim, said some of her students and her sister are taking part.
“We’re still motivated to perform well and to do well because of the e-festival so the majority of students practiced ... to be proud of what you have and what you present to adjudicators," said Kim.
The submissions will be adjudicated by professional musicians from southern Ontario. Pauli says the feedback helps students grow.
“It’s important for them to have positive and constructive criticism you know in their studies and especially like I say from an outside professional that isn’t maybe their teacher. It’s just a different slant or a different view on how they’re doing.”
Pauli said the adjudicators also award scholarships to top performers and many of those students will be asked to play in a virtual concert that's happening at the end of June.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.