Show the love for local youth and music this month by purchasing a ticket to the Kiwanis Music Festival of Guelph’s Gala Concert and Fundraiser, happening on Feb. 10 at the Guelph Youth Music Centre.
The Kiwanis Music Festival of Guelph (GKMF) has provided thousands of young, aspiring musicians with annual performance opportunities that are second to none. The Festival is the largest youth services arts program in Guelph and surrounding area, according to Kiwanis Club of Guelph member and music festival supporter, Chris Bisson.
“Each year, the GKMF hosts more than 3,000 participants over our four-week-long music festival,” said Bisson. “The Kiwanis Music Festival provides upwards of $1,300 in awards and scholarships, and our annual Gala Concert and Fundraiser is one of the key ways the Kiwanis Club of Guelph supports this.”
The gala gets underway at 7 p.m., with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a social. The concert begins around 7:30 p.m. and will wrap up at approximately 10:00 p.m. Tickets, $25 for adults and $10 for youth, are available here.
“We are thrilled with the lineup of amazing talent we have for this very special night,” enthused Bisson. “There will be music from several genres, and incredible performances from former participants, professional musicians, and our own Mayor, Cam Guthrie.”
Bisson continued, “The show will open with The Radicchios; three young, classically trained violinists, with a twist. You have to hear them! The event will also feature performances of winning pieces from this year’s Oscar Bookbinder Composition Competition. The evening’s finale will be a performance from none other than local songwriter, Mikalyn Hay, whose songs have been played on radio around the world and streamed over 12M times on Spotify. It will be a wonderful evening.”
Hay has nothing but fond memories and thoughts of her time with the GKMF. She said, “I was a part of the Kiwanis music festival for 10 years (8-18) and it was so impactful and important to my musical journey. It helped me get over stage fright, gave me the confidence to perform as I do now. It instilled a work ethic in me, giving me an end goal to practice every day towards.”
In addition to the spectacular entertainment and appetizers for ticketholders, the GKMF hosts an online auction to raise funds for the festival. It is open to the public. Interested bidders can register and bid online here.
“We have so many excellent items to bid on,” said Bisson, “including tickets for Guelph Musicfest, a chance to write a song with Mikalyn, upscale watches donated by local patrons and Knar Jewellery, gift certificates for local businesses, and so much more. It’s free to register, so please just hop on and see what you would like. Just be warned, bidding ends on Feb. 10 at 9 p.m.”
If you are an aspiring musician, registration for the Kiwanis Music Festival of Guelph is open until February 23.
“Whether you are a musician, a music lover, or want to support youth arts programming in our area, the Kiwanis Music Festival of Guelph is a place to do any or all of those things,” said Bisson. “We look forward to welcoming you to our gala evening, and thank you very much for your support.”
Tickets are limited. They can be purchased at the door, but you are encouraged to purchase them in advance, online. (Get them here.)